Fire on roof of non-active nuclear power plant in Gelderland under control | NOW

The fire that started on Thursday on the roof of the non-active nuclear power station in Dodewaard in Gelderland is under control, the Gelderland-Zuid safety region confirms to NU.nl. No radioactivity is involved in the fire.

The fire caused damage only to the outside of the building. “The nuclear installation was not involved in the fire,” said the spokesman for the safety region of Gelderland-Zuid. No dangerous substances were released during the fire.

The fire brigade is busy extinguishing the fire. The after-fire activities will take some time, according to the spokesperson.

It is not yet known how the fire started. The fire brigade deployed with multiple units to get the fire under control. Emergency services had proclaimed GRIP-1, which means that emergency services together set up one emergency team with one person in charge.

Traffic controllers and the police are present in Dodewaard to ensure that emergency services have sufficient access to the fire.

Many people come to the fire. The fire brigade called earlier to stay away, because there were probably gas bottles on the roof. “We are still asking to stay away from the surrounding area,” said the spokesperson. “We experience discomfort from people who come to watch.”

“Nuclear safety is not at stake”

The Nuclear Safety Authority (ANVS) says that nuclear safety at the inactive nuclear power plant is not at stake. The supervisor will supervise the further handling of the fire.

The plant has not been in use since 1997. All nuclear fuel and radioactive waste has been removed and equipment has been disconnected. In 2005, the ‘Safe Enclosure’ of the plant was completed, which means that the plant is virtually bricked up.

Since then, a waiting period of up to 2024 has started, in which the radiation on the last radioactively contaminated surfaces has expired. During this waiting period, the building is constantly secured and after 2045 the power plant can be completely demolished.

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