Rapidly Growing California Wildfire Threatens Contaminated Nuclear Reactor Site
A rapidly growing wildfire in California is threatening the contaminated Santa Susana Field Laboratory site. Firefighters are working to contain the Sandy Fire, which has prompted evacuation orders for thousands of residents. The site, which has a history of hazardous contamination, poses additional risks if the fire reaches it.
- ▪The Sandy Fire is burning near the Santa Susana Field Laboratory, which is contaminated with hazardous chemicals and radioactive materials.
- ▪As of Wednesday morning, the fire has burned nearly 1,700 acres and is only 15% contained.
- ▪More than 43,700 residents in Simi Valley are under evacuation orders due to the fire's proximity.
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It’s been nearly 70 years since the Santa Susana Field Laboratory (SSFL) partially melted down, but the defunct nuclear reactor and rocket testing site is still contaminated with hazardous chemicals and radioactive materials. Now, a fast-growing wildfire threatens to release those substances into the air.cnx.cmd.push(function(){cnx({"playerId":"92b7b46b-43ed-4e0e-b21b-2c999302d9d7","settings":{"advertising":{"macros":{"AD_UNIT":"/23178111854/od.gizmodo.com/article","CHILD_UNIT":"article","POST_ID":"2000761295","POST_TYPE":"post","CHANNEL":"earther","SECTION":"earth-science","SUBSECTION":"","CATEGORIES":"earth-science","TAGS":"extreme-weather,nuclear-reactors,wildfires","NOP":"0"},"timeBeforeFirstAd":0}}}).render("cnx-player-main")}); Firefighters are working desperately to contain the…
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