
An on-site fire brigade at the Entergy (NYSE:ETR) Indian Point 2 nuclear plant quickly extinguished a blaze at the property Nov. 8, according to an event report from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).
“On November 8, 2016, at approximately 0840 EST, plant personnel reported an explosion within the Protected Area resulting in a fire with potential damage to plant structures or equipment. An Unusual Event was declared at 0851 EST,” according to an NRC event report.
“The onsite Fire Brigade was mobilized. The fire was extinguished at 0848 EST. The explosion was to the 138 kV power cross connect cable between the Unit 2 and 3 Station Auxiliary Transformers. Both Units are operating normally. There was no release of radioactive material. An investigation of the event is in progress,” according to the NRC event report.
Both Indian Point 2 and Indian Point 3 were listed at full power early Nov. 9, according to NRC data.
Entergy issued a news release that reported the “small fire” and noted an “unusual event” is “the lowest of the NRC’s four emergency classification levels. The fire followed an electrical fault on a cable that carries electricity between both operating units at the site. A small fire on the cable self-extinguished moments after the fault occurred., Entergy said.
Indian Point Energy Center, in Buchanan, New York, is home to two operating nuclear power plants, unit 2 and unit 3, which generate approximately 2,000 MW of electricity for homes, business and public facilities in New York City and Westchester County.