Emergency declared at South Carolina nuclear site after fire erupts at lab

An emergency was declared at a massive Department of Energy nuclear site in South Carolina after a laboratory fire left one employee with minor injuries, officials said.

The Savannah River Site (SRS) declared a Site Area Emergency at 5:39 p.m. Wednesday after a fire broke out at the Savannah River National Laboratory near Aiken, South Carolina, according to the Department of Energy.

The emergency was terminated at 9:45 p.m. after the fire was extinguished and radiological surveys found no detectable levels of contamination, according to an updated notice from SRS.

One employee was taken to a hospital with minor injuries, a DOE spokesperson told Fox News.

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"No radiological contamination has been reported," the spokesperson said.

All protective actions were lifted, and site barricades have reopened, officials said.

"There are currently no operational emergencies or scheduled delays for the Savannah River Site," an SRS notification update stated. 

Oncoming shift workers were instructed to report as usual, while all other employees were told to return to work as scheduled on Thursday, Oct. 29.

Shift workers who had been directed to shelter in place were also allowed to return to work as usual.

Highway 125 remained open following the incident and traffic at site entrances resumed after officials temporarily barricaded them as a precaution, according to SRS. 

SRS earlier announced restrictions on all rail, river, and air traffic near the vicinity of the site.

SRS officials continued directing response efforts and notified the appropriate state and local government agencies.

Local residents were previously advised to monitor local radio and television stations for updates and any instructions from state officials.

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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.

"While serving as one of the nation’s most critical pieces in the weapons complex, the site is also one of the safest major industrial sites in the world. Ensuring national security, protecting workers, the public, and the environment, are our highest goals," the SRS website states. 

The facility was constructed in the 1950s, when 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.