Fire Breaks Out at Nuclear Site in South Carolina

An emergency has been declared at a nuclear site in South Carolina after a fire broke out at a laboratory, officials said.

The fire ignited Wednesday at the Savannah River National Laboratory at the Savannah River Site (SRS) near Aiken, South Carolina, around 5:39 p.m., officials said. The site is under the auspices of the Department of Energy.

Crews put the fire out about two hours after it was reported, according to SRS.

"No contamination has been reported outside the affected facility," officials said.

Barricades at site entrances have been closed to incoming traffic as a precautionary measure, officials said.

Traffic via rail, river, and air near the SRS vicinity was also under restriction.

Employees in areas affected by the fire who are not involved in emergency response or shutdown operations have been directed to shelter in place.

SRS officials are directing response efforts; state and local government agencies have been notified.

Local residents are advised to stay tuned to local radio and television stations for updates and any instructions from state officials.

The SRS is a major installation in the nation’s weapons complex that has supported the U.S. military’s strategic deterrence mission for more than 75 years, according to the SRS website.

The installation manages nuclear materials and radioactive waste, with cleanup operations aimed at protecting the surrounding environment, according to the Department of Energy.

The facility was built in the 1950s. Five reactors were built to produce materials used in nuclear weapons, primarily tritium and plutonium-239. Several support facilities were also built, including two chemical separation plants.