Public Not In Danger After Zion Nuke Plant Fire: Officials
ZION (CBS) -- Fire officials in north suburban Zion say there was no danger to the public from a fire Thursday morning at the Zion Nuclear Power Plant.
The fire inside the plant was reported about 10:20 a.m., according to the Zion Fire and Rescue Department. When firefighters arrived at 101 Shiloh Blvd., plant personnel told them there was smoke on several floors of the plant.
Fire crews discovered that torch work had ignited residual oil in the area where work was being done, a release from the department said.
Using fire extinguishers on site, the fire was mostly extinguished by plant personnel. Fire department crews completed the job and confirmed the fire was out.
Though the fire was small, it gave off a significant amount of smoke, making the fire appear to be larger than it was, the fire department said.
That made it necessary to raise the alarm to get additional resources and equipment in case the fire grew into something more serious. Fire crews remained at the scene for about an hour.
The incident did not involve any radioactive material and at no time was the public in danger, the fire department said.
No one was injured.
The cause of the fire was determined to be accidental, a result of a torch inadvertently striking an object with an oil coating, the release said.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2013. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
