OCONEE COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) – Oconee County Emergency Services responded to the Oconee Nuclear Station on Saturday after smoke alarms went off, an incident Duke Energy reported as an ‘unusual event.’
According to OCES, just after 5 a.m. on Saturday morning emergency services received a request for assistance. Crews from Oconee and Pickens counties responded to the call.
Duke Energy confirmed that operators declared an ‘unusual event’ for the station’s Unit 2.
The power company said in a release that “An Unusual Event is the lowest of four nuclear emergency classifications. This classification describes a condition or event that is outside of normal plant operations, but poses no threat to public safety.”
OCES said steam had melted paint on a pipe, creating smoke and causing alarms to go off, but there was no fire.
Duke Energy said Unit 2 remains shut down with units 1 and 3 continuing to operate.
