Rockdale County's fire chief resigns months after BioLab fire

Rockdale County Fire Chief Marian McDaniel has resigned.

The county confirmed that McDaniel submitted her intent to resign on Thursday. Her departure comes months after a chemical fire at the BioLab facility in Conyers, where cleaning products for swimming pools and spas are produced.

The September fire created a plume that released chemicals into the air, triggering thousands of evacuations, closing businesses, and forcing Rockdale County schools to switch to virtual learning for weeks.

While the county did not give a reason for McDaniel’s resignation, Rockdale County Public Relations Director Melisa Mims said it was unrelated to the BioLab fire.

"Our priority is to offer an effective Fire Department with the best service levels," the county said in a statement. "We celebrate our brave men and women who have chosen such an honorable profession and appreciate their dedication to the citizens and businesses of Rockdale County. We are confident that this transition will help us move forward in the best interests of our community."

The statement did not acknowledge McDaniel’s tenure or her distinction as the department’s first female and Black fire chief.

McDaniel was appointed fire chief in December 2020 after joining Rockdale County Fire Rescue as Deputy Fire Chief of Administration in 2017. Before that, she served nearly 20 years with Atlanta Fire Rescue Department.

GPB has reached out to McDaniel for comment but has not yet received a response.

JaNice Van Ness, chair of the Rockdale County Board of Commissioners, appointed Deputy Chief of Operations James Robinson as interim fire chief while the county searches for a permanent replacement. 

A job listing for the position was posted to the county's website on Monday.