Fire at US nuclear site triggers emergency response

An emergency was declared at a massive Department of Energy nuclear site in South Carolina after a fire in a laboratory left an employee with minor injuries, officials said.

The Savannah River Site (SRS) declared a state of emergency at 5:39 p.m. Wednesday after a fire broke out at the Savannah River National Laboratory near Aiken, South Carolina, according to the Department of Energy.

The emergency ended at 9:45 p.m. after the fire was extinguished and radiological examinations revealed no detectable levels of contamination, according to an updated SRS advisory.

One employee was taken to the hospital with minor injuries, a DOE spokesperson told Fox News.

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A file photo shows the Savannah River site near Aiken, South Carolina. (State/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

“No radiological contamination has been reported,” the spokesperson said.

All protective measures have been lifted and barricades at the site have been reopened, officials said.

“There are currently no operational emergencies or delays anticipated for the Savannah River site,” an updated SRS notification stated.

Oncoming shift workers were asked to report as usual, while all other employees were asked to return to work as scheduled on Thursday, October 29.

Shift workers who had been directed to shelter in place were also allowed to return to work as usual.

Highway 125 remained open after the incident and traffic at the entrances to the site resumed after authorities temporarily barricaded them as a precaution, according to SRS.

SRS had earlier announced restrictions on all rail, river and air traffic near the site.

SRS officials continued to lead response efforts and notified the appropriate state and local government agencies.

Local residents were previously advised to monitor local radio and television stations for updates and instructions from state officials.

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A boat travels the Savannah River in Savannah, Georgia. (Amy Galo)

The SRS is a major installation in the U.S. military complex that has supported the U.S. military’s strategic deterrence mission for more than 75 years, according to the SRS website.

The facility handles nuclear materials and radioactive waste, with cleanup operations aimed at protecting the environment, according to the Department of Energy.

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U.S. Department of Energy headquarters at the James V. Forrestal Building in Washington, DC, May 28, 2026. (Al Drago/Getty Images)

“While being one of the most critical elements of the country’s weapons complex, the site is also one of the most secure large industrial sites in the world. Ensuring national security, protecting workers, the public and the environment are our highest goals,” the SRS website states.

The facility was built in the 1950s, when five reactors were built to produce materials used in nuclear weapons, primarily tritium and plutonium 239. Several support facilities were also built, including two chemical separation plants.