After halting operations due to intense wildfires, which resulted in evacuations in the vicinity, a nuclear weapons factory located in the US state of Texas announced on Wednesday that it will reopen as usual.
Early on Wednesday, five uncontrolled fires were raging close to the northern city of Amarillo. The Texas A&M Forest Service reports that the largest fire, known as the Smokehouse Creek Fire, had burned 300,000 acres.
The local National Weather Service office reported that high winds and unusually warm temperatures were fueling fires that were expanding southward near Amarillo, as shown by satellite imagery.
“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,” plant operators stated in a message on X, the previous Twitter platform.
21 miles (34 km) from Amarillo, the Pantex plant assembles and disassembles US nuclear stockpiles, conducts special nuclear material testing, and produces high explosives.
The factory had built a fire barrier to safeguard its infrastructure and had already declared that it was stopping operations. Only necessary employees were claimed to have stayed at the site over night.
“The Pantex Plant has suspended operations till further notice. It stated on Tuesday night that “all weapons and special materials are safe and unaffected.”
On Wednesday, the factory did not say if the threat had subsided.
According to data from the Texas A&M Forest Service, 25 out of 31 active fires in the state were under control.
Removals
Governor Greg Abbott of Texas released resources for fighting fires on Tuesday by declaring 60 counties to be in a state of disaster.
“Texans are urged to limit activities that could create sparks and take precautions to keep their loved ones safe,” Abbott said in a press release.
The weather service in Amarillo advised people to stay inside.
It posted on X with the caption, “Air quality remains poor in the Amarillo area… as smoke continues to stream southward.”
A number of municipalities, some as far away as 100 miles (160 km) from Amarillo, issued orders for residents to evacuate, closing roads and directing them to seek refuge at home or in public spaces.
There have been reports of significant structure damage in Hutchinson County, Texas, due to fires.
After being forced from their houses by fire, more than 200 people were taking refuge in a church in Fritch, 35 miles from Amarillo, according to media reports.
Church pastor Dwight Kirksey told CNN, “We have a lot of people at the facility who confirmed they lost their homes.”
“Of course, they’re devastated and heartbroken.”
A motel manager named Melanie McQuiddy told CNN that she had left her Canadian town because of fires that were burning ten miles away.
It appears to be Armageddon. White ash has covered every tree,” she remarked.
Early on Wednesday, more than 4,000 Texans were without electricity, according to PowerOutage, a US outage tracker.