Fire at US nuclear site triggers ‘radiological release’ alert, FAA restricts flights

A fire at the US Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site in South Carolina prompted officials to declare a Site Area Emergency on Wednesday evening, October 28, with local media reporting a radiological release and restrictions on nearby air traffic.

The emergency was declared at 5:39 p.m. local time at the federal nuclear facility near Aiken, South Carolina, according to updates posted on the site’s official X account.

Officials confirmed that the fire broke out at Savannah River National Laboratory, which operates within the nuclear complex. The blaze has since been extinguished.

Local broadcaster WRDW/WAGT reported that an emergency dispatch described an “unfiltered ground-level radiological release” associated with the incident.

However, Savannah River Site officials said no contamination had been reported outside the affected facility, and there was no indication of consequences beyond the site’s boundaries.

According to WRDW/WAGT, the fire was confined to a single room at the laboratory. Sources told the broadcaster that the incident began shortly after 5 p.m.

The cause of the fire and whether anyone was injured have not been disclosed.

Emergency response activated

Savannah River Site officials said the incident triggered emergency response activities at the Department of Energy facility. “An event is in progress that has triggered emergency response activities at the Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site,” officials said in an initial notification.

According to local media reports, employees in Area A, where the laboratory is located, were instructed to shelter in place for approximately 30 minutes.

A fire was reported at the Savannah River National Laboratory but has since been extinguished. No contamination has been reported outside the affected facility.

— Savannah River Site (@SRSNews) October 28, 2026

Some employees were subsequently allowed to leave, although access to the affected area remained restricted. Officials also closed barricades at site entrances to incoming traffic. Employees not involved in emergency response or shutdown operations were instructed to shelter as a precaution.

Rail, river, and air traffic near the facility were restricted, according to a statement from site officials. The Federal Aviation Administration imposed a temporary flight restriction covering a 15-nautical-mile radius around the facility, extending up to 10,000 feet above sea level, according to local media reports.

The restriction was reportedly scheduled to remain in place until midnight Thursday. However, Highway 125 remained open, with officials confirming that the road had not been closed.

Savannah River Site officials said they were directing the emergency response and had notified appropriate state and local government agencies.

Nuclear complex’s Cold War history

The Savannah River Site covers approximately 310 square miles across Aiken, Barnwell, and Allendale counties in South Carolina.

Established in the early 1950s during the Cold War, the facility originally produced materials for nuclear weapons, including plutonium-239 and tritium.

Today, the complex handles radioactive waste, spent nuclear fuel, and excess plutonium. It also continues tritium operations supporting the country’s nuclear deterrent. Savannah River National Laboratory conducts research involving nuclear materials, environmental management, energy technologies, and national security.

Officials said additional information would be released through the site’s public information staff as it becomes available.

Source: https://interestingengineering.com/energy/savannah-river-site-fire-radiological-release-emergency