FIRE AT NUCLEAR SITE, ONE INJURED

WASHINGTON, OCTOBER 29 /SRNA/ - A fire broke out in a laboratory at the Department of Energy "Savannah River" nuclear site in South Carolina, injuring one person, and the emergency was lifted after all protective measures had been taken, the nuclear site said.

"The emergency at the 'Savannah River' site has been lifted and all protective measures have been taken. The fire has been extinguished, and subsequent monitoring detected no contamination," the statement said.

Local media reported that the fire had caused a release of radiation, which is why an emergency was declared.

The nuclear site said morning shift workers could come to work as the situation had returned to normal, RIA Novosti reported.

The "Savannah River" nuclear site covers about 600 square kilometers and was used during the Cold War to produce weapons-grade plutonium-239 and tritium for the US nuclear arsenal.

The site is now used to store and dispose of radioactive waste and to maintain tritium reserves in support of the US nuclear arsenal.