Hanford on Alert, Crews Working to Contain Wildfire

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Story Published: Aug 16, 2007 at 8:24 PM PDT

By Mike Crispino

HANFORD -- Firefighters are scrambling to stop a
blaze on the Hanford nuclear reservation.

High winds pushed the fire between State Highway 240 and a
central part of the Hanford site, where underground tanks hold
millions of gallons of radioactive waste.

The fire is estimated between 5,000 and 10,000 acres. About 50
fire fighters are assigned to the fire and at least three air
tankers are dropping retardant on the blaze.

Richland Operations Office manager David Brockman says none of
the Hanford facilities are in immediate danger.

A spokeswoman for the state Department of Health says there is
no immediate public health risk from the fire.

Investigators do not know what caused the blaze.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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