Nuclear security

'Unusual Event' at Oconee Nuclear Plant in South Carolina Leads to Shutdown

A fire at a nuclear power station in South Carolina damaged a power line and partly shut down the facility on Sunday, but caused no threat to the public, the company said.The flames, which sent a plume of black smoke into the air, damaged a power line in the switchyard at the Oconee Nuclear Station, resulting in an equipment fault, according to a statement from Duke Energy, the plant’s operator. The cause of the fire, described as an “unusual event,” was under investigation, it said on Monday.

“There was no release of any radioactive material,” it said in an emailed statement. The fire in the station switchyard was away from the nuclear reactors, turbine and generator, it said.