FORKED RIVER (Feb. 2, 2009) - Operators at Oyster Creek Generating Station declared an "unusual event" at 10:11 p.m. Eastern time Sunday, after a fire occurred at one of the station's two main transformers. The fire was extinguished 16 minutes later and the event formally terminated at 11:37 p.m. Eastern Time.
On-site responders and local fire departments responded, including the Forked River station. The unit automatically shut down safely as designed when the transformer fire began. Oyster Creek has two transformers that transmit electricity from the plant to the electrical grid that serves the region.
There were no injuries to fire department or plant personnel, and there was no threat to the health and safety of the public. Exelon's environmental experts are monitoring the canal for any potential impact to aquatic life from loss of heat from the plant. Plant operators are investigating the cause of the transformer fire.
An unusual event is the lowest emergency level in the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's emergency classification system. Exelon Nuclear personnel notified all appropriate federal, state and local government officials of the unusual event.
Oyster Creek is about 60 miles east of Philadelphia in Ocean County, New Jersey. The plant produces 636 net megawatts of electricity at full power, enough electricity to supply 600,000 typical homes, the equivalent to all homes in Monmouth and Ocean counties combined.