NEWTON COUNTY, Ga. — Months after the BioLab fire, residents said damage to their health, homes and wallets hasn’t gone away.

Phyllis Lynn, who has lived in Covington for 12 years, said the fire has cost her thousands of dollars.

“I had to pay at least about $5,000 going back and forth to the doctor, from getting my yard treated to having someone come out there and spray once a month. So, yeah, I've been spending money,” Lynn said.

The fire at the facility broke out in September 2024, sending a towering plume of smoke into the air and prompting emergency crews to evacuate nearby areas. The incident caused no reported injuries but raised concerns about chemical exposure and long-term environmental impacts.

Lynn lives about 15 minutes from the facility that burned down and was one of a

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