A fire at the Savannah River National Laboratory in South Carolina triggered an unfiltered ground-level radiological release and the declaration of a site area emergency on Wednesday evening. The blaze has since been extinguished.
Emergency declared after blaze
Authorities announced the emergency at 5:39pm on Wednesday after flames erupted in a single room at the facility near Aiken. The Savannah River Site shared an update on its official X page, stating: “A fire was reported at the Savannah River National Laboratory but has since been extinguished. No contamination has been reported outside the affected facility.”
Officials told local broadcaster WRDW that there was “an unfiltered, ground-level radiological release.” They stressed that no contamination was detected outside the affected facility, and there has been no evidence of impacts beyond the site's perimeter.
Restrictions and response
The Federal Aviation Administration imposed a flight restriction, citing a US government “nuclear incident” at the location. The Savannah River Site also noted: “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.”
Residents were advised: “Local residents should tune in to local radio and TV stations where state officials will announce any actions citizens may need to take. Residents should stay tuned to these stations for updated instructions.”
Shelter and aftermath
Staff caught up in the incident sheltered in place as a precautionary measure. They were located in Area A, the laboratory section, and took cover behind barricades, the statement confirmed. They were later permitted to leave, though no entry was allowed, WRDW reported, citing the statement in part.
The cause of the blaze, along with the type and quantity of substance released, and whether any injuries were sustained, all remain unknown. The emergency declaration represented the second-highest of three emergency categories at the site, indicating “something more serious has occurred,” according to the site's community preparedness information. It was lifted on Wednesday night once the fire had been extinguished.
The Savannah River Site occupies approximately 310 square miles of land spanning the South Carolina-Georgia border. Established in the 1950s, it produced plutonium and tritium for nuclear weapons throughout the Cold War, though its focus has since shifted to nuclear materials management, environmental remediation and research.
