A wildfire in the Texas Panhandle exploded in size on Tuesday, forcing the temporary shutdown of a nuclear weapons plant.
BREAKING: 🚨 The Texas wildfires outside of Amarillo have forced the Pantex nuclear weapons facility to pause operations.
— Matt Couch (@RealMattCouch) February 28, 2024
"The fire near Pantex is not contained."
pic.twitter.com/3965l0xq82
The Smokehouse Creek Fire, burning between Canadian and Stinnett, exploded in size from 40,000 to 200,000 acres in a matter of hours on Tuesday. This prompted Republican Gov. Greg Abbott to issue a disaster declaration for 60 counties.
"Hot and dry conditions caused by high temperatures and windy conditions are expected to continue in the region in the coming days," Abbott said in a statement. "These conditions could increase the potential for these wildfires to grow larger and more dangerous."
A developing situation out of north Texas at this hour, as the Windy Deuce wildfire spreads south towards the Pantex Plant northeast of Amarillo.
— Zach Covey (@ZachCoveyTV) February 28, 2024
The plant is the primary nuclear weapons assembly and disassembly facility for the United States. The fire lies 8.2 miles north… https://t.co/eUotD6jMhq pic.twitter.com/lXjrFCFKHa
According to a post on X, Pantex Plant, the nation's top nuclear weapons assembly and disassembly plant, about 17 miles northeast of Amarillo, canceled plant operations "until further notice" on Tuesday evening, adding, "All weapons and special materials are safe and unaffected."
Operations at the Pantex Plant have paused until further notice. All weapons and special materials are safe and unaffected.
— Pantex Plant (@PantexPlant) February 28, 2024
"The fire near Pantex is not contained. Response efforts have shifted to evacuations. There is a small number of non-essential personnel sheltered on-site," Pantex said late Tuesday night.
The fire near Pantex is not contained. Response efforts have shifted to evacuations. There is a small number of non-essential personnel sheltered on-site.
— Pantex Plant (@PantexPlant) February 28, 2024
By Wednesday morning, the plant said: "The Pantex Plant is open for normal day shift operations for Wednesday, February 28; all personnel are to report for duty according to their assigned schedule."
The Pantex Plant is open for normal day shift operations for Wednesday, February 28; all personnel are to report for duty according to their assigned schedule.
— Pantex Plant (@PantexPlant) February 28, 2024
Pantex has been the US's main assembly and disassembly site for nukes since the mid-1970s. It assembled the last new bomb in 1991 while dismantling thousands.
Close call...
