Nuclear station in south Carolina catches fire

A transformer at a Oconee nuclear power plant in South Carolina caught fire Sunday evening.

Authorities said that the fire lasted for about 30 minutes, but no nuclear material was in danger of being released. They explained that one unit was shut down as a precaution after a transformer outside the plant caught fire.

The other two units continue to operate after the fire started , with no reported injuries, and no evacuations were required.

Officials with Duke Energy said in a news release that the fire was upgraded from an unusual event to alert because the blaze damaged a power line in the station’s switchyard. They said an alert must be declared when a fire causes loss of electrical equipment.

Source : Petra