A nuclear weapons facility in Texas announced its resumption of operations on Wednesday after temporarily halting due to wildfires in the vicinity.
In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), plant operators confirmed, “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.”
While the Texas A&M Forest Service reported that 25 out of 31 fires across the state were contained early Wednesday, the largest inferno, dubbed the Smokehouse Creek Fire, had engulfed 300,000 acres and continued to pose a containment challenge.
Satellite imagery captured fires encroaching near the northern city of Amarillo, propelled by strong winds and unusually warm temperatures, as reported by the local office of the National Weather Service.
Situated approximately 21 miles (34 kilometers) from Amarillo, the Pantex plant had earlier announced a temporary halt in operations and erected fire barriers to safeguard its premises. “Operations at the Pantex Plant have paused until further notice. All weapons and special materials are safe and unaffected,” the facility stated on Tuesday evening.
Pantex, located in Texas, is responsible for assembling and disassembling the United States’ nuclear stockpiles, conducting specialized nuclear material testing, and manufacturing high explosives.
In response to the escalating wildfire threat, Texas Governor Greg Abbott declared a disaster in 60 counties on Tuesday, facilitating the allocation of additional resources for fire response efforts.
In a statement, Governor Abbott urged Texans to minimize activities that could generate sparks and to prioritize safety measures for their families.
Amarillo’s weather service cautioned residents to remain indoors due to poor air quality in the area, with smoke drifting southward, as highlighted in a post on X.
Multiple towns, located as far as 100 miles (160 kilometers) from Amarillo, issued evacuation directives, shutting down roads and directing citizens to seek shelter either at home or in public facilities.
