‘Radiological release’ triggers emergency response at SRS

AIKEN, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) - An incident at the Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site triggered a “site area emergency” response Wednesday evening.It’s not a danger to the public outside the vast SRS border, News 12 was told. According to SRS, it was a fire in a single room at Savannah River National Laboratory that was reported at 5:39 p.m., and there was “an unfiltered ground-level radiological release.” The fire has been extinguished.However, the dispatch, as well as a news release from SRS, said there was no indication of contamination beyond the site’s boundaries.Multiple sources told News 12 that it happened shortly after 5 p.m. They said employees in the lab area, Area A, had to shelter in place behind barricades for about 30 minutes.After a time, people were allowed to leave, but others were not allowed in. SRS officials said employees who aren’t involved in the emergency response or shutdown operations have been sheltered as a precaution.As a precaution, SRS said barricades