Emergency Declared at South Carolina Nuclear Site
An emergency was declared at a large Department of Energy nuclear facility in South Carolina following a laboratory fire that resulted in minor injuries to one employee, according to officials.
The Savannah River Site (SRS) initiated a Site Area Emergency at 5:39 p.m. on Wednesday after a fire erupted at the Savannah River National Laboratory, which is located near Aiken, South Carolina, as reported by the Department of Energy.
The situation was resolved by 9:45 p.m. after firefighters extinguished the blaze and radiological surveys detected no contamination, as per the latest updates from the SRS.
An employee was transported to a hospital for treatment of minor injuries, a DOE spokesperson confirmed.
“No radiological contamination has been reported,” the spokesperson stated.
Following the incident, all safety measures were lifted, allowing site barricades to open once more, officials noted. The SRS went on to confirm that there are no ongoing operational emergencies and no delays expected for the site.
Workers on the upcoming shift were instructed to report as normal, while others were directed to return to their shifts on Thursday, October 29. Those initially advised to shelter in place were also given the green light to resume their duties.
Highway 125 remained accessible to traffic after officials had briefly closed site entrances as a precautionary measure, according to SRS. Earlier, restrictions had been placed on rail, river, and air traffic around the area.
SRS personnel continued to oversee the response efforts and kept relevant state and local government agencies informed. Residents in the surrounding area were previously advised to stay tuned to local radio and TV for further updates and instructions from officials.
The Savannah River Site is a key part of the nation’s weapons complex, having played a role in supporting U.S. military strategic deterrence for over 75 years, according to information on the SRS website. It involves managing nuclear materials and radioactive waste, emphasizing cleanup operations to protect the surrounding environment.
The facility, established in the 1950s, originally included five reactors designed to produce materials for nuclear weapons, particularly tritium and plutonium-239, along with additional support facilities like two chemical separation plants.
