DOE News Release – Incident Alert
Date: June 12, 2007
Time: 2:45 p.m.
#2
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
INL Fire Department responds to a fire and injury at the Idaho National Laboratory – information being gathered at Emergency Operations Center
The INL Fire Department has responded to a fire alarm in a laboratory at U.S. Department of Energy’s Idaho National Laboratory. The incident is at the INL Site’s Reactor Technology Complex (RTC).
· A worker was pouring about one ounce of red phosphorus powder, working in a laboratory fume hood in a laboratory at RTC, when the material ignited. The worker was slightly injured when the material flashed and has been transported to the onsite medical facility with minor burns and inhalation injuries.
· 36 other workers in the vicinity of the laboratory have been transported to the CFA Medical Facility to be evaluated as a precaution. All workers at the facility have been accounted for.
· The INL Fire Department has extinguished the fire and are remaining at the scene to monitor. There is no radiological release from this incident.
INL site Communications is continuing to gather more details about the incident. Further details will be provided to the media as soon as they can be confirmed. INL emergency organizations are responding to the incident. State, county and tribal officials have been notified.
INL’s emergency Joint Information Center at the Engineering Research Office Building, 2525 Fremont Ave., Idaho Falls, has been activated to answer questions. Media should call (208) 526-9206, not your regular INL contacts. Employees and the public can call (208) 526-5042.
-INL-
Media Information: (208) 526-9206
Public Information: (208) 526-5042
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