Emergency response triggered at South Carolina nuclear site after fire erupts at lab

A “radiological release” triggered a “site area emergency” response at the Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site in Aiken, South Carolina, Wednesday evening, October 28. News 12 was told that it is not a danger to the public outside the vast SRS border,

SRS reportedly explained that it was a fire in a single room at Savannah River National Laboratory. It was reported at 5:39 p.m., and there was “an unfiltered ground-level radiological release.” The fire was subsequently extinguished.

Also Read | Yosemite National Park wildfire map and evacuation updates: Dome Fire rapidly grows to 100 acres; here’s the latest

The dispatch and a news release from SRS said that there was no indication of contamination beyond the site’s boundaries.

What Savannah River Site said

Savannah River Site shared on Facebook that a “fire was reported at the Savannah River National Laboratory but has since been extinguished. No contamination has been reported outside the affected facility.”

Also Read | Reno wildfire update: Hawk Fire prompts new evacuations and road closures as thousands flee; over 10,000 acres burned

“As a precaution, barricades at site entrances have been closed to incoming traffic. Rail, river, and air traffic in the vicinity of SRS is also being restricted. SRS officials are directing response efforts and have notified the appropriate state and local government agencies,” the post added.

Read more