mardi 28 juin 2011

Wildfire closes Los Alamos National Laboratory for another day - CNN.com


Wildfire closes Los Alamos National Laboratory for another day
By the CNN Wire Staff
June 28, 2011 -- Updated 0717 GMT (1517 HKT)
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • Authorities order a mandatory evacuation for the town of Los Alamos
  • More than 10,000 people are affected by an evacuation order
  • Central structures at the facility are well protected, officials say

(CNN) -- A raging wildfire near the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico will keep the facility closed for a second day on Tuesday as firefighters battle brisk winds and warm temperatures, authorities said.

"No other fires are currently burning on Lab property, no facilities face immediate threat, and all nuclear and hazardous materials are accounted for and protected," a statement from the lab said.

An estimated 8,000 people evacuated Monday, according to Kelly Stewart, a spokeswoman for Los Alamos County. About 3,000 people left their homes after officials issued a voluntary order Sunday night, she said.

The Las Conchas fire, which flared up during the weekend, was reportedly about a mile from the lab's southwestern boundary Monday night, according to a statement on InciWeb, an online interagency database that tracks fires, floods and other disasters.

The fire, which has spread across nearly 44,000 acres, is burning to the north and northeast, according to InciWeb. It was 0% contained as of Monday night.

Wildfire threatens Los Alamos lab
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Additionally, a one-acre spot fire was reported on the lab's property, at its southern boundary.

"Air crews dumped water at the site within the Lab's Technical Area 49 and brought the blaze under control," a statement from the lab said.

Los Alamos, a center of American nuclear science, is one of the nation's top national-security research facilities.

The fire near the lab has raised concerns about whether hazardous materials kept there are being adequately guarded. Authorities say they are.

"They have anticipated the problem of fire, and they've taken precautions," Sen. Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico said Monday. "The structures that are central to the operation of the laboratory are well protected."

The lab is about 35 miles northwest of Santa Fe, New Mexico, on 36 square miles of property owned by the Department of Energy. More than 11,000 employees work at the facility.

CNN's Craig Bell contributed to this report

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  • MEMO02
    Some folk's needs to be more informed about jet stream and jet streaks, why no body talks about things like that ??
  • Eideard
    Why do I think American voters will ever do anything sensible?  We may be a self-perfecting species; but, not in my lifetime.
  • BillsCat
    Yep, sure, we can trust the Government.  Why look at how they helped the Apaches and Arapaho and Sioux.  And how honest they were with the public about 1600 nuclear tests in Utah and Nevada.   There is no problem here because we said so!  Return to your homes!  Sleep!  Obey!  Breed!  Consume!  Watch... more
  • behere
    Bomb Libya  and get it back in fire, flood, storms    Have you got it yet Tell O BOMB A to get out of LIBYA now and save our country from more disasters
  • MEMO02
    Sure that makes sense also the Mississippi River flooding, Hurricanes and Tornadoes " must be those Mexican's right...
  • blue175
    Definitely aliens of one form or another...but never ever could it be linked to global warming.
  • blue175
    The headline should read "Wildfire threatens critically strategic national security research center"

    But that (sadly) wouldn't freak people out as much.
  • 21k
    the real hazards are from the homes and businesses that will burn: paint cans, plastics, ammo, propane, etc.
  • Fro1975
    Was there 2 weeks ago.  And yes, the materials are stored in fire proof vaults and not just some filing cabinet in some guys office.  My concern is the caldera just west of there and the town of Los Alamos. The town has a couple of thousand people living there.  As for the caldera, Beautiful old gro... more
  • ZAZUS
    The town has about 12,500 people with another 5,000 in White Rock, which is physically separated from the "town site" and has about 5,000 people. White Rock has not been evacuated.
  • dschiffer12
    It is quite beautiful here.  =/  Hopefully this fire is contained soon.
  • SoundAdviseX
    You were at the research facility 2 weeks ago, or New Mexico?
  • SoundAdviseX
    "Must be those Mexican Terrorists"
    Signed J. Mac
    :)
  • Byrd8
    Let it burn.  Nothing good ever came out of those laboratories.
  • blue175
    You mean like your computer?
  • Frangible
    Science and knowledge are bad!  And scientists?  Yeah, f*** those guys, always trying to play God instead of getting a real job at the lumber mill.

    F***ing magnets, how do they work?
  • Neutronium

    That's not true.
  • musings2
    My first thought is that heat rises and fires burn up. Of course what they burn can collapse downward, but they've thought of that, haven't they? Los Alamos probably has basements and hardened silos?
  • zingers
    all nuclear materials were protected in japan to. they must publish this book of lies in all languages
  • ramzy126
    Glad News !
  • hoofleau
    Is there a nuclear conspiracy going on here? If so, is the media being paid off to manipulate the public. It sure looks that way.
  • Americawtevr
    The oil industry wants to put fear into our hearts about nuclear energy.  The US really promotes oil because it is all sold in dollars.  This means that US banks touch all the oil money on a daily basis.  We have the ability to use alternative fuel or electricity, but we will not.  2 sectors heavily... more
  • Frangible
    Well we could have had the Ford Nucelon but noooooo.  People just had to have shielding around their nuclear reactors.
  • iEvolved
    Yeah, that's the scenario, pretty much.
  • MrRight123
    Do you drive to work?  Oh...never mind.

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Original Page: http://edition.cnn.com/2011/US/06/28/new.mexico.los.alamos/index.html?eref=edition

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