Uranium Depot Fire

["Frederic Dawson" <ydc90@dial.pipex.com>]

Yahoo! News Tuesday February 9, 12:58 AM
'Stay Indoors' Warning After Uranium Depot Fire

Families living near a Royal Ordnance depot have been advised to stay
indoors after a blaze ripped through a building containing uranium.
Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service said that at its peak, up to 70
fire-fighters tackled the blaze at the Royal Ordnance Speciality Metals
Depot in Featherstone, Staffordshire, England.

Environmental health experts said there was no evidence of radiation being
leaked from the plant. A fire service spokesman said the blaze involved a
depleted uranium store and a special unit for dealing with chemicals was
called to the scene. He said fire crews had experienced problems gaining
access to the building to tackle the flames, when the fire broke out. He
added that a cloud of black smoke that billowed from the factory posed only
a small risk. A spokesman for Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) said
any possible radioactive fallout from the blaze would be difficult to detect
because of weather conditions. He added: "While the fire was burning it was
crisp and clear, with little or no wind, therefore it will take some time
for any fall-out to materialise."


Fred Dawson
3 Barnsbury Close, New Malden
Surrey. KT3 5BP
England
44(181) 287 2176
Personal webb page : http://dialspace.dial.pipex.com/town/drive/ydc90/
Work Email : modsafety@gtnet.gov.uk


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