Emergency declared after fire breaks out at US nuclear facility lab

A fire inside a laboratory at a nuclear facility in South Carolina prompted an emergency declaration on Thursday, briefly raising concerns over safety at the site. Officials later confirmed that no evidence of a radioactive release or nuclear material leak had been found.

According to US authorities, the fire was quickly extinguished, allowing officials to lift the emergency alert after the situation was brought under control.

One employee sustained minor injuries in the incident and was taken to a hospital for treatment. Officials did not immediately provide further details about the employee’s condition or the cause of the fire.

The US Department of Energy said radiological surveys were conducted following the incident to assess any potential risk from radioactive materials. The checks found no evidence that nuclear material or radiation had escaped from the laboratory.

The findings helped reassure officials that the incident had not resulted in a radiological emergency, despite the initial precautionary response.

Authorities subsequently instructed employees scheduled to work at the site to return as usual, with operations expected to continue according to their normal schedule.

The emergency declaration was a precautionary measure intended to ensure that personnel could respond quickly while the fire was being addressed and the facility assessed.

Although the fire was contained without any reported major radiological consequences, the incident highlighted the importance of emergency preparedness at facilities that handle or work with nuclear-related materials.

Officials have not disclosed additional details about the laboratory involved, the activities being carried out when the fire started, or whether a formal investigation into its cause has been launched.

For now, authorities say the immediate danger has passed, the emergency alert has been lifted, and routine work at the facility is expected to resume as scheduled.