Fire at Savannah River National Laboratory Prompted Emergency Declaration

A fire ignited at the Savannah River National Laboratory, part of the Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site near Aiken, South Carolina, at approximately 5:39 p.m. on Thursday, according to officials. The incident triggered an emergency response, and fire crews worked for about two hours before extinguishing the blaze.

Site officials reported that no radioactive contamination was detected outside the affected laboratory building. As a precaution, barricades were placed at all site entrances, and inbound traffic was halted. Restrictions also applied to rail, river, and air traffic in the vicinity of the Savannah River Site.

Employees who were not directly involved in emergency response or shutdown operations were instructed to shelter in place until the situation was fully assessed. The response effort is being coordinated by Savannah River Site management in conjunction with state and local government agencies.

Local residents have been advised to stay informed through radio and television broadcasts for any further instructions from state officials. The Department of Energy and site authorities continue to monitor the area for any potential impacts and will provide updates as the investigation proceeds.