Multiple explosions and fire at Symrise chemical plant in Brunswick prompts evacuations

This is a developing story.

UPDATE 7:00 p.m.:

Evacuation orders have been lifted and residents can return to their neighborhoods, according to the latest Glynn County press release.

Crews will be finalizing the monitoring of tanks, shutdown of valves and extinguishing fires on the site. They will then go in and coat the area with a foam blanket to suppress the fumes from the plant and cool any hot spots that may be left.

The State Fire Marshall will enter the location to begin the investigation of the blaze. Once he clears the scene, company officials will have the plant turned back over to them.

UPDATE 3:30 p.m.:

Camden County Emergency Management Agency received reports of a chemical smell in parts of Glynn County outside of the shelter-in-place area (about 3-mile radius from Symrise plant). The smell is from terpenes coming from the plant fire and explosion this morning.

Officials say terpenes are naturally occuring chemical compounds, can cause irritation for people with asthma or other breathing issues, but is not considered toxic.

UPDATE 2:30 p.m.:

The Symrise Chemical Plant is experiencing a flare up and residents have not been cleared to return to their homes in the Satilla Shores and Royal Oaks neighborhoods, according to the Glynn County Sheriff's Office.

Additionally, Camden County Emergency Management Agency advised that residents in the following neighborhoods shelter in place and avoid outdoor activities: Hickory Bluff, Sanctuary Cove (east of I-95), Dover Bluff, Waverly and Lampadoshia.

County officials confirmed that the chemical source of the fire is hydrogen peroxide pinene, which is manufactured at the plant.

Previous Story:

An industrial fire that broke out Monday morning at the Symrise chemical plant in Brunswick has been contained and is expected to burn out, according to Glynn County officials.

The plant is located at 209 SCM Road off U.S. 17 and across from the Colonel's Island Terminal of the Georgia Ports Authority.

According to the county officials, one firefighter sustained minor injuries. No other injuries or casualties have been reported, and everyone besides hazmat and emergency personnel has been evacuated from the plant.

No power outages have occurred either, said Glynn County Sheriff's Office undersheriff Mario Morales.

The Glynn County Fire Rescue received a call of a fire at the Symrise chemical plant at around 3:45 a.m., reported county officials. Upon arrival, a small explosion occurred and the response team tried to determine the source of the fire. As the team pulled back, two more explosions emitted from the plant. During the incident a Code Red was engaged.

A multi-agency fire detail, including Glynn County, Camden County, Nahunta, Jekyll Island, city of Brunswick, Jacksonville and Savannah was called to the scene.

Emergency and hazmat units have contained the fire and are now implementing mitigation measures, according to Morales. That includes ensuring that the fire does not resurface and making sure any chemicals do not go airborne. While the fire is contained, wind shift is still a concern, said county officials.

Three neighborhoods have been evacuated: Hickory Bluff, Satilla Shores and Royal Oaks. County officials later reported that Dover Bluff was also evacuated and two schools in the area were given a shelter in place notice.

Those within a one-mile radius of the plant are advised to evacuate while neighborhoods within a 3-mile radius are under a shelter-in-place order, according to Glynn County Board of Commissioners Facebook page.

Those evacuating can find shelter at Selden Park at 100 Genoa Martin Drive, the Ballard Gymnasium and the PSA Recreation Center located at 1050 Wildcat Drive in Kingsland, according to Camden County Emergency Management Agency.

Residents should not try and approach the site of the fire, said Morales.

Symrise is a German-based company with over 100 locations across the globe. According to their website, they produce more than 34,000 products related to fragrance, flavor, natural nutrition and cosmetics.

Chemicals including hydrogen peroxide pinene were being produced at the plant, said Glynn County PIO Katy Baasen, but officials are not aware if or how much of the chemicals are becoming airborne. Evacuations were a precautionary measure, said Baasen.

Remembering Woodbine: The ground shook: 50 years later, Woodbine still haunted by deadly Thiokol explosion

The Symrise plant is located 21 miles away from the Thiokol plant in Woodbine, where a devastating explosion took place in 1971, killing about 30 workers and injuring dozens.

More updates on incidents at the Symrise plant will be posted on the Glynn County Board of Commissioners' page, the Glynn County Sheriff's Office page and Camden County EMA as information is being shared from the ground.

Nancy Guan is the general assignment reporter covering Chatham County municipalities. Reach her at nguan@gannett.com or on Twitter @nancyguann.

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Symrise chemical plant explosion in Brunswick GA prompts evacuations