Fire in glovebox at LANL plutonium facility sparks safety discussion

[Marlin]

Fire in glovebox at LANL plutonium facility sparks safety discussion

https://www.ans.org/news/2026-07-30/article-8259/fire-in-glovebox-at-lanl-plutonium-facility-sparks-safety-discussion/

[Core Content]

A fire occurred in a glovebox at the Los Alamos National Laboratory plutonium facility on June 15 during a thermal treatment test. Personnel evacuated the area after discovering flames in a furnace, though no injuries or radiological releases were reported. The glovebox remained out of commission following the event.

The Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board identified a trend of four preventable glovebox fires since 2023. Inspectors noted that recent operational changes were implemented without required fire hazard evaluations, bypassing safety controls. These recurring incidents raise questions regarding the adequacy of current fire suppression alternatives and the rigor of change management processes at the site.

According to a Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB) report, a fire occurred in a glovebox in the plutonium facility at Los Alamos National Laboratory on June 15. A test involving nonnuclear material was underway in the furnace inside the glovebox at the time of the incident.

An explanation for the cause of the fire has yet to be released. The incident has incited discussions among laboratory personnel and management regarding fire safety practices at the facility, including concerns raised by resident inspectors that most gloveboxes in the facility lack automatic fire suppression and that multiple similar preventable incidents have occurred at the facility in the past few years.

Read the full article at ans.org:
https://www.ans.org/news/2026-07-30/article-8259/fire-in-glovebox-at-lanl-plutonium-facility-sparks-safety-discussion/