Fire at Hanford lab sends 2 workers to hospital
RICHLAND – A fire at a laboratory on a former nuclear weapons production site has sent two workers to the hospital.
The fire broke out Thursday morning on the Hanford Nuclear Reservation, where the federal government once made plutonium for nuclear weapons.
The Tri-City Herald reported that a worker at the 222-S Laboratory put out the fire with a hand-held fire extinguisher.
The Hanford Fire Department responded and confirmed the fire was out. The newspaper reported that surveys were done to verify that no radioactive material was involved.
About 250 laboratory employees were evacuated, but returned to the site in the afternoon.
Two employees were taken to Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland, complaining of respiratory irritation.
The lab studies the content of radioactive and hazardous wastes as part of Hanford cleanup.