- America’s main nuclear weapons plant was evacuated last night as fierce wildfires burnt nearby.
- Pantex, the centre for assembling and disassembling the US nuclear arsenal, said last night that it had shut down operations until further notice.
- After fires nearby were brought under control, it reopened this morning for ‘normal day shift operations’ with all personnel asked to report for duty.
- The organization issued a warning last night that the fire at Pantex is “not contained” and that evacuations are now the main focus of response activities. A few non-essential employees are housed on the premises.
- Strong winds, dry grass and unusually warm temperatures fuelled the blaze in the rural Panhandle of Texas.
- A disaster declaration was issued for sixty counties by Republican governor Greg Abbott yesterday, as the largest fire consumed over 400 square kilometers.
