A fire at a federal nuclear research facility in South Carolina triggered an emergency response Wednesday, October 28, temporarily restricting transportation and access to the surrounding area.
The incident occurred at Savannah River National Laboratory, located within the U.S. Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site near Aiken. According to the Associated Press, the fire prompted a Site Area Emergency, the second-highest emergency classification used at the facility.
As a precaution, officials blocked incoming traffic, restricted nearby air, rail, and river transportation, and instructed certain employees to shelter in place.
Emergency crews extinguished the fire Wednesday evening. Officials later lifted the emergency declaration and reopened site entrances after radiological surveys found no detectable contamination.
The Savannah River Site has a long history connected to America’s nuclear weapons program. Established during the Cold War, the complex previously produced plutonium and tritium for nuclear weapons.
Today, its operations focus on scientific research, environmental cleanup, radioactive waste management, and nuclear materials.
Officials have not announced what caused the fire.
