A fire at a government facility processing enriched uranium Y-12 did not result in a release of radioactivity. This is according to the National Nuclear Security Administration.
According to Knox News, the fire has been located. At the same time, company officials said there was no radiation release. However, according to American media, the fire affected uranium in metallic form in a hood of building 9212, the original building built in 1945, which must be replaced in the years to come.
In addition, according to American sources, during the extinguishing of the fire, it was necessary to evacuate almost two hundred employees of the enterprise.
Indoor monitors did not trigger an alarm, meaning no contamination was detected in the facility. No outside influence was found and no casualties were reported. Y-12 resumed normal operations shortly before 1 p.m., when officials told a press conference that the situation was stable
– said at a special press conference a representative of the company Y – 12.
It should be noted that this is not the first major accident involving the release of toxic substances that has occurred in the United States recently. On February 3, a train carrying hazardous substances crashed in Ohio. As a result of the accident, a massive fish kill was recorded in the surrounding rivers, and domestic animals died on the personal farms of local residents.
At the same time, the American media has long suppressed this subject. US authorities made an official statement about this only two weeks later.