2005 Topanga Wildfire Update
2000 of the 2,849 acres at the Santa Susana Field Laboratory (SSFL) burned in the 24,000 acre Topanga Wildfire that started in Chatsworth, California on September 28, 2005. No structures at the Energy Engineering Technology Center were affected by the fire. Air samples taken during and after the fires did not detect any airborne release of man-made radiological materials. Ash samples did not detect any radiological contamination above approved cleanup levels. Previous U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) sampling from other wildfires has shown that regrowth does not uptake radiological contamination in areas of burned brush.
A poster presentation from the November 2005 public meeting and a fact sheet contain more information about the wildfire.
Recent pictures looking towards the Radioactive Materials Handling Facility at ETEC in Area IV show recovery from the fire. Select the images below for a larger view.
