Fire at South Carolina nuclear lab triggers emergency measures

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 29 Oct, 01:40 · Archive

A fire broke out at a US Department of Energy nuclear laboratory in South Carolina, triggering an emergency declaration and a radiological release.

A fire broke out in a laboratory at the Savannah River National Laboratory, a Department of Energy nuclear facility near Aiken, South Carolina, at approximately 5:39 p.m. on Wednesday evening. Emergency response measures were activated, and crews extinguished the fire roughly two hours after it was reported.

Officals stated that an 'unfiltered ground-level radiological release' occurred as a result of the fire. However, all three outlets reported that no contamination was detected outside the affected building itself. The Federal Aviation Administration issued a temporary flight restriction around the area and designated the event a US Government 'nuclear incident'.

As a precaution, barricades were closed at site entrances to incoming traffic. Rail, river and air traffic in the vicinity of the Savannah River Site were also placed under restriction. Employees in affected areas who were not involved in emergency response or shutdown operations were directed to shelter in place, initially for approximately 30 minutes.

The Savannah River Site is a 310-square-mile Department of Energy complex spanning several counties in South Carolina. The facility hosts both nuclear environmental cleanup operations and research activities related to national security and nuclear science. Relevant state and local government agencies were notified of the incident, and local residents were advised to monitor local radio and television stations for updates.

How it is being reported

• US nuclear facility declares emergency after 'radiological release'A US nuclear facility has gone into emergency after a "radiological release". The Department of Energy's Savannah River site said a fire broke out in the facility at 5.39pm local time (9.39pm GMT). Site officials told local media there had been an "unfiltered ground-level radiological release". The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has now issued a temporary flight restriction around the area. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say The aviation body described the event as a US Government "nuclear incident". Employees in the area were told to shelter in place for 30 minutes after the incident…GB News · 29 Oct, 01:29
• Energy Department lab fire sparks nuclear scare after ‘radiological release’ at SC facilityWhile no contamination was reported outside the “affected” building, the fire caused an “unfiltered ground-level radiological release,” the Savannah River Site said.New York Post · 29 Oct, 01:28
• Emergency declared at South Carolina nuclear site after fire erupts at labA fire at a massive Department of Energy nuclear site triggered emergency measures, though officials reported no contamination outside the facility.Fox News · 29 Oct, 01:10

In this story: Savannah River National Laboratory · Savannah River Site · Department of Energy · Aiken · South Carolina · Federal Aviation Administration

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log