Los Alamos, NM – Fire managers say it’s a “make or break day” for ensuring flames from a wildfire don’t race into a northern New Mexico town that is home to a government nuclear laboratory.
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The blaze has charred about 93 square miles and is burning around the south and west side of Los Alamos National Laboratory.
Lab officials and fire managers say they’re confident the flames won’t reach key buildings or areas where radioactive waste is stored in barrels above ground.
For the stored waste, officials say a last resort would include spraying foam on the barrels to ensure they aren’t damaged by fire.
Anti-nuclear activists are concerned about the potential for the fire to reach critical areas given that it has grown to more than 60,000 acres in 48 hours.
