This Wednesday morning, emergency services were called to the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, Tennessee following the breakout of a uranium fire. Managed by the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), the federal facility is responsible for the production of uranium components for the US nuclear weapons program.
The incident was confirmed by an NNSA spokesperson, who said it began around 9:15 AM local time and affected the site only. 200 employees were evacuated from Building 9212, with the neighboring ones taken out as well. Fortunately, there have been no reports of injuries or contamination.
The cause of the fire remains inconclusive, and local and state officials continue to work with NNSA to ensure the safety of both the personnel and facility. The Y-12 Complex is an integral part of the US’ nuclear weapons program, making the incident highly concerning. Nonetheless, the response was prompt, preventing the fire from escalating.