Oyster Creek Owner Clarifies Plant Status Amid Wildfire In Lacey

LACEY, NJ — A wildfire that has burned more than 8,500 acres in Ocean County came near the decommissioned Oyster Creek Nuclear Power Plant on Tuesday but did not damage any buildings, the site's owner said.

The nuclear power plant site, which sits on the border of Lacey and Waretown, was near the most intense portion of the Jones Road fire, prompting safety concerns among residents.

As rumors circulated that buildings at the property had burned, Pat O’Brien, director of government affairs and communications at Holtec International, which owns the property, said there had been no losses.

"There is no fire or loss of buildings at the site," O'Brien said in a statement on Holtec's social media.

"Oyster Creek Security Personnel are keeping careful round-the-clock watch on all of the site property to ensure protection from the current forest fire in Waretown," he said. "Earlier this evening, embers from the fire blew onto a small patch of grass on plant property, north of all buildings and structures, and was completely and safely extinguished."

"All the buildings on the Oyster Creek site as well as the entire Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation are designed and constructed to withstand fires. Nonetheless, our personnel have taken all necessary steps to keep the site fire-safe, and are staying closely connected to local, county and state fire officials while they battle this forest fire," O'Brien said.

Smoke was still visible in the area but the body of the fire did not appear to be close to the plant property on Wednesday morning.