AIKEN, S.C. — Emergency response operations were underway at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site near Aiken, South Carolina, on Wednesday evening, October 28, 2026, after a fire at the Savannah River National Laboratory prompted officials to declare a Site Area Emergency and report a radiological release inside the facility.

According to the Savannah River Site (SRS), the emergency was declared at approximately 5:39 p.m. after a fire was reported in a room at the Savannah River National Laboratory. The fire has since been extinguished, and officials said no contamination had been reported outside the affected facility.

An emergency dispatch reportedly described the incident as involving an unfiltered, ground-level radiological release. The full extent and nature of the release have not yet been detailed in the information provided by officials.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reportedly characterized the event as a “U.S. Government Nuclear Incident.” Authorities have not provided further details about the FAA designation in the available information.

As emergency crews responded, employees in areas affected by the incident were instructed to shelter in place as a precaution. Personnel involved in emergency response and shutdown operations were exempt from that instruction, according to the Savannah River Site’s announcement.

Officials also restricted access to the facility. Barricades at site entrances were closed to incoming traffic while response operations continued.

In addition, rail, river and air traffic in the vicinity of the Savannah River Site were being restricted as part of the emergency response.

The restrictions were precautionary measures intended to support response operations while officials assessed the situation.

Despite the reported radiological release inside the laboratory, the Savannah River Site said there was no indication of consequences beyond the facility’s boundaries.

Officials have not reported radioactive contamination outside the affected facility. However, the emergency response and investigation remain ongoing, and further information about the release has not yet been provided.

The distinction is important: a radiological release was reported within the facility, but authorities had not reported that radioactive material had spread beyond the Savannah River Site.

At the time of the reported update, officials had not announced any public evacuation order or other specific protective action for nearby communities.

The South Carolina Emergency Management Division and members of the State Emergency Response Team were coordinating with Savannah River Site officials and standing by to provide support if needed.

The Savannah River Site said it had notified the appropriate state and local government agencies and that its officials were directing the response.

Residents in nearby communities were advised to monitor local radio and television stations for official updates and any instructions issued by state authorities.

Officials said additional information, including further media contact details, would be provided through the site’s public information staff as it became available.

The cause of the laboratory fire, the circumstances surrounding the reported radiological release and the full scope of the incident had not been established in the information available.

Authorities have not reported contamination beyond the affected facility, but the situation remains under review as emergency personnel continue response operations.

Residents should rely on official communications from the Savannah River Site, South Carolina emergency management officials and local authorities for verified updates.