Fastrack · Savannah River Site Declares Emergency After Lab Fire

A fire broke out Wednesday at the Savannah River National Laboratory near Aiken, South Carolina. Officials declared a Site Area Emergency at 5:39 p.m.

Crews put out the fire roughly two hours after it was reported.
15 nautical miles: the radius of the FAA's temporary flight restriction.
Site entrances closed to incoming traffic; rail and river traffic restricted.
Lab workers in Area A sheltered behind barricades for about 30 minutes.

Why it matters: The site's statements say no contamination was reported outside the affected facility. A dispatch call relayed by WRDW described an unfiltered ground-level radiological release from a single room.

The FAA notice labeled the event a U.S. government nuclear incident.
310 square miles: the site's size; it is the sole U.S. tritium source.

How 9 sources split on this story

Source landscape

Factuality

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Strong LeftLeftLean LeftCenterLean RightRightStrong Right

Political Bias

Coverage by lean% of 9 sources

9 sources · 9 articles · 67% Right coverage

Center2 sources

USA Today58mFire at South Carolina nuclear site triggers emergency response WSAV Savannah2hSavannah River Site declared a site area emergency

Left1 source

CNN2hFire at South Carolina nuclear site triggers emergency but no contamination found outside lab, officials say

Right coverage, 6 sources: The right centers the radiological release and the FAA's nuclear incident label, while relaying officials' word that no off-site contamination was reported.

New York Post2hEnergy Department lab fire sparks nuclear scare after 'radiological release' at SC facility The Gateway Pundit2h“US Govt Nuclear Incident at Savannah River Site” FAA Bars Air Traffic Over South Carolina Nuclear Facility After Fire Reported * The Gateway Pundit * by Kristinn Taylor Just the News1dFire breaks out at Department of Energy nuclear site in South Carolina, emergency declared OutKick3hEmergency declared at South Carolina nuclear site after fire erupts at lab Townhall7hFire at Savannah River Site Triggers 'Site Area Emergency' in South Carolina Washington Examiner3hEmergency declared at South Carolina nuclear site after lab fire

What’s next: The site says it will release more specific information through its public information staff.

Residents were told to follow local radio and TV for state instructions.
What caused the fire, and what material burned?
How much radioactive material, if any, was released, and do boundary monitors confirm none left the site?
Were any workers exposed or injured?