The key facts
- A fire in a laboratory at the Savannah River nuclear complex occurred on October 28 at 17:39 local time, with an unfiltered radiation release at ground level reported
- The complex's administration stated there was no radioactive contamination beyond the affected building and the outer boundaries of the site
- The state of emergency was lifted at 21:45 local time (04:45 Moscow time on October 29), checkpoints reopened, and protective measures discontinued
Fire and release at a US Department of Energy facility
A fire broke out in a room of the national laboratory at the Savannah River nuclear complex in the US state of South Carolina, accompanied by a radiation release. The incident at the facility of the US Department of Energy was reported by the local TV channel News 12; Life.ru also wrote about it. According to the complex's administration, the report of the fire came in on Wednesday, October 28, at 17:39 local time (00:39 Moscow time on October 29). According to the TV channel, an «unfiltered radiation release at ground level» occurred at the same time.
Restrictions and assessment of consequences
After the incident, the facility's management closed the checkpoints to incoming traffic, and rail, river and air traffic was restricted in the area of the complex. The Savannah River administration stated that specialists found no radioactive contamination beyond the affected building and the outer boundaries of the entire complex. Residents of nearby areas were advised to follow reports from local radio stations and TV channels; the facility's management notified the relevant federal and local agencies.
State of emergency lifted the same night
The state of emergency at the complex was lifted at 21:45 local time on October 28 — 04:45 Moscow time on October 29, that is, about four hours after the fire was reported. The SRS administration announced that «the emergency in the Savannah River site area has been resolved»: the checkpoints were reopened and protective measures were discontinued. Thus, the confirmed change compared with the initial situation is the complete lifting of the movement and entry restrictions imposed, all in the same night.
What is known about the complex
Savannah River is a large nuclear complex opened in the early 1950s, where during the years of US Cold War rule materials for nuclear weapons were produced, including tritium and plutonium-239. The national laboratory is located in the northwestern part of the complex. According to the US Department of Energy, the facility's specialists are now engaged in environmental protection, cleanup of contaminated areas, nuclear waste management and disposal of radioactive materials. No information about casualties, the cause of the fire or the nature of the release is available in published reports.
