Fire at Savannah River Site lab contained, emergency lifted

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site near Aiken, South Carolina, declared an emergency on October 28 after a fire broke out at the Savannah River National Laboratory, according to the Post and Courier.

Emergency response efforts began at 5:07 p.m., and the fire was extinguished shortly thereafter. Radiological surveys showed no detectable contamination outside the affected facility, officials said in written statements reported by the Post and Courier.

As a precaution, barricades at site entrances were temporarily closed to incoming traffic, and rail, river, and air traffic in the vicinity were restricted. The Federal Aviation Administration issued temporary flight restrictions in the Aiken area, describing the situation as a 'US GOVT NUCLEAR INCIDENT,' but these were later lifted.

The emergency was officially lifted around 9:45 p.m., and workers at the site were instructed to return to their usual shifts. The Savannah River Site directed response efforts and notified state and local government agencies throughout the event, as reported by WCBD Count on 2 and the Post and Courier.