The fire near Pantex is not contained. Response efforts have shifted to evacuations. There is a small number of non-essential personnel sheltered on-site.
For clarification, the initial incident reported at Pantex was in reference to the local area wildfires. There is currently no fire on the plant site and emergency personnel continue to monitor the situation.
Operations at the Pantex Plant returned to normal Wednesday, February 28, following non-essential personnel dismissals and shift cancellations February 27 due to wildfires north of the plant site. There is no imminent wildfire threat to the plant at this time.
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.
Pantex representatives will conduct a press conference at 8:45 p.m. at the Joint Information Center (JIC) located at 801 S. Fillmore, Suite 460, Amarillo, TX.
Pantex has a severe event emergency plan that is designed to provide guidance to responders. The Pantex emergency management program is one of the best programs in the DOE Complex.
Pantex plant emergency personnel are monitoring the situation within the site boundary only. For information regarding your immediate area, contact local county or emergency responders.
Appropriate protective actions have been initiated for Pantex employees. Local residents should tune in to Emergency Alert System (EAS) radio and TV stations where local officials will announce any actions citizens may need to take.
NNSA Production Office (NPO) and Consolidated Nuclear Security (CNS) spokespersons along with local and state governments will be available in the JIC to provide updates on the emergency response efforts and offsite developments that may occur as a result of the emergency.
We were excited to welcome
@NNSANews
Administrator
@NNSAHruby
today! She met with the NNSA Council to tour the site, view project areas, and visit with the workforce supporting
#NNSA
missions.
#PantexPride
Precautions are being taken due to a security event. Access to FM2373 has decreased north of Hwy. 60. Other precautions include assistance from Carson County Sheriff and
@AmarilloPD
A fire is north of Pantex. Out of an abundance of caution, nonessential personnel at the site including swing shift are instructed to evacuate the site at 6:30 PM today, February 27. Please check routes as you leave the plant to ensure you do not drive into the fire danger.
Thanks to the responsive actions of all Pantexans and the NNSA Production Office in cooperation with the women and men of the Pantex Fire Department and our mutual aid partners from neighboring communities, the fire did not reach or breach the plant’s boundary.
A memorial now stands
@PantexPlant
with a piece of steel from the World Trade Centers serving as a permanent reminder of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice on September 11, 2001. Read more on the memorial and hear reflections on 9/11 here:
The W76‑1 Life Extension Program touched many people and sites across of the Nuclear Security Enterprise. Watch as members of the crew talk about the teamwork it took to make this accomplishment a reality.
As a certified
@NWSAmarillo
#StormReady
community, helping Pantexans remain safe during severe weather is a top priority. The Pantex Communications team recently gathered to discuss emergency preparedness and take a
#SafePlaceSelfie
. Where is your safe place from extreme weather?
Joint Test Assemblies are an important part of testing to ensure the quality of the nation’s nuclear deterrent. Learn more about JTAs in our latest blog:
#PantexPride
Representatives from the
@NNSANews
Production Office joined leaders from CNS at Pantex recently for a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Flexible Support Facility. Learn more about the project in our latest blog:
#PantexPride
Today was the virtual 2021 Pantex Middle School Science Bowl. Final Results are: Best Sportsmanship – Bonham Team 1; 3rd – Bushland Team 1; 2nd - Bushland Team 2; and representing our region at the
@DOE_SC_NSB
... 1st Place – Lorenzo de Zavala
#PantexPride
#NationalScienceBowl
Congratulations to
@Bechtel
on the company’s 125th anniversary! Bechtel is the lead in the CNS partnership which manages and operates Pantex. Local Bechtel employees gathered on site to celebrate this week.
#Bechtel125
We are proud to host
@NNSANews
Principal Assistant Deputy for
#Military
Application Brig Gen Stacy Jo Huser along with Brig Gen Edwards today! They will attend briefings and tour facilities, including where U.S.
#nuclear
#weapons
are assembled and disassembled.
#PantexPride
Pantex employees outside the affected area are staying indoors to facilitate emergency response. Pantex is focused on protecting employees, the public, and special nuclear material during severe events.
Pantex Facility Engineer Lacey Keith was recognized as the 2018 Young Engineer of the Year by the
@NSPE
local Panhandle chapter. Lacey is the first employee at Pantex who has won this award & she will be considered at the state & then national level. Congrats, Lacey!
#Engineering
Life has come full circle for Pantexans Kyle Brack and his son Landon.
“Back in the 90s, I dropped him off at daycare – now when we carpool, he drops me off.”
#PantexPride
#Fathersday2023
Pantexans and partners from across the National Security Enterprise celebrated the halfway production completion mark of the B61-12 Life Extension Program and the W88 Alt 370.
#PantexPride
The results are in from the Pantex Regional Middle School Science Bowl!
Best Sportsmanship: Ascension Academy
3rd Place: Bonham Middle Team 2
2nd Place: Bonham Middle Team 1
….and the team representing our region at the
@DOE_SC_NSB
Science Bowl is…
1st Place: Hutchinson Team 1
The Pantex Fire Department’s fleet of emergency vehicles is expanding with the addition of 3 new trucks. Find out more in our latest blog:
#PantexPride
#AdaptAndDeliver
Several Pantexans volunteered their time as bell ringers for the The Salvation Army USA Red Kettle Campaign on December 10, 11, and 12.
#CNSCares
#PantexPride
Congratulations to our Fire Department Cook Team who took home second place in ribs at this year’s
@AmarilloChamber
BBQ. They also placed in the top 10 in all other categories. But don’t bother asking for their sauce recipe, because they’ll just tell you “that’s classified.”
@PantexPlant
is excited to welcome
@NNSANews
Administrator
@LGHNNSA
today! She is meeting with the workforce supporting
#NNSA
missions, touring project areas, and celebrating
#NNSA
’s 20th anniversary.
More than 500 girls from 44 different school districts attended today’s 7th annual Introduce a Girl to Engineering event! The students learned more about working in STEM fields through hands-on activities.
#PantexPride
#STEM
Pantex recently participated in the "Women in Industry" event held at
@AmarilloCollege
. Representatives from Pantex and other local organizations spoke to around 50 women about what it's like being a woman in the technical industry.
#PantexPride
Pantex was recently recertified by the
@NWS
as a StormReady community. Keeping everyone safe during severe weather is vitally important to our mission.
#StormReady
Pantex Outreach and Leadership Organization participated in Over the Edge, a fundraising event for
@FSSAmarillo
The group raised funds to “Toss the Boss” sending Joe Papp, senior director for Pantex Engineering, over the edge of Amarillo’s Santa Fe building.
CONGRATULATIONS to Bonham Middle School Team 1 on winning first place in the 2024 Pantex Regional Science Bowl and qualifying to compete at the Official National Science Bowl ® in Washington, DC in April!
Pantex volunteers staffed
@SalvationArmyUS
#RedKettles
on December 13 at
@UnitedWestTexas
. Their efforts were accompanied by a $5,000 Pantex donation. The Red Kettles enable the organization to help those in need during Thanksgiving and Christmas time periods.
Precautions are being taken due to a security event. Access to FM2373 has decreased north of Hwy. 60. Other precautions include assistance from Carson County Sheriff and
@AmarilloPD
A combined CNS team recently won the Sportsmanship awards during the Hazardous Material (HAZMAT) Challenge held at Los Alamos National Laboratory. For more on this award, check out our latest blog.
#PantexPride
Amarillo's women leaders in
#STEM
fields encouraged girls in grades 8-12 at the Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day conference sponsored by Pantex and
@Region16ESC
.
#IGTE2019
#STEMRising
Today is
#HigherEducationDay
and we are excited to welcome 12 students as our 2019 summer interns. CNS is hosting 45 interns at Pantex and
@y12nsc
from 27 higher education institutions for this 10-week program of development, hands-on learning, and fun.
#PantexPride
#MoreThanAJob
Pantex was recently named Employer of the Year for
@wtamu
Paul and Virginia Engler College of Business - for exceptional contributions to the Engler College of Business, and commitment to promoting workplace excellence.
#PantexPride
Pantexans recently visited Bowie Middle School’s career fair. Pantexan Milton Guerrero attended Bowie Middle School in his youth and was excited to come back and share his experience.
#PantexPride
#STEM
Pantex honors our security police officers during Law Enforcement Week. Many thanks to the men and women who dedicate their time and talents to serving and protecting our important mission.
#lawenforcementweek
Today’s
#PanhandleStrong
fundraiser raised funds from the sales of t-shirts and a portion of sales from a meal at the Pantex cafeterias and food trucks. Proceeds will go toward the wildfire relief efforts through the United Way of Hutchinson County & the Amarillo Area Foundation.
This afternoon
#NNSA
celebrated completion of the First Production Unit for the W88 Alt 370 with Acting Administrator Dr. Charles P. Verdon to recognize the teams who contributed to this milestone.
#PantexPride
@PantexPlant
Congrats are in order for the Pantex Fire Department Cook Team for claiming Grand Champion status at the
@CanyonChamber1
Chow-down, and placing first in ribs, first in brisket, and fourth in pulled pork.
#PantexPride
#SodPoodles
and slime? Pantex recently participated in STEM Day at Hodgetown Ballpark and several Pantexans were on hand to make slime with local students and visit with them about careers in science, technology, engineering, and math.
#MoreThanAJob
#PantexPride
This month, Pantex began demolition and removal of excess facilities like this trailer to reduce the size of the plant's footprint and environmental impact. Four recently vacated facilities totaling 51,327 sq. ft. are expected to be removed by November.
Congratulations to the newest Pantex security police officers! The 19 graduates completed more than 300 hours of training as part of the
@ENERGY
National Training Center’s Tactical Response Force I course.
Engineers from Pantex visited local schools to share STEM activities with approximately 1,000 students as part of Engineer’s Week. Students had fun building popsicle catapults and taking part in a radioactive ping pong ball activity.
#PantexPride
#EngineersWeek
#STEM
Our first session has been a success at Introduce a Girl to Engineering. Students are taking part in hands-on career exploration stations and plenary sessions with women STEM leaders from Pantex, Xcel Energy, Amarillo College, and Texas Tech.
#IGTE
#PantexPride
#GirlDay2023
#STEM
A special holiday tradition, known as the Pantex Christmas Project, has continued since the late 1950s. This year, Pantexans donated clothing and gifts for 62 children and 11 seniors. Families also enjoyed a party organized by Christmas Project members.
Some gave all. On behalf of the men and women who help keep America secure at Pantex, we gratefully acknowledge the sacrifices of our fallen heroes.
#MemorialDay2023
Let the games begin! Teams from 13 area high schools vie for a regional
#sciencebowl
title today. The winning team earns $1,000 for their school's science program and an all-expense paid trip to
@DOE_SC_NSB
.
Pantex Historian Katie Paul showed scouts from Boy Scout Troop 31 around the Pantex White Train at the Amarillo Railroad Museum’s Open House last Saturday.
#PantexPride
CNS employees were recently recognized with awards from NNSA’s Office of Safety, Infrastructure, and Operations – or NA-50. Our latest blog details the awards ceremony.
#PantexPride
Today on
#SkilledTradesDay
, we thank all the dedicated men and women who use their skills and talents in their work every day to support the mission.
#PanteXProud
The suspicious package was determined to pose no threat. Thanks to
@AmarilloPD
for assistance in response. The Pantex Plant has returned to normal operations.
Congratulations to the five Pantex teams and eight
@y12nsc
teams who received Excellence Awards from
@NNSANews
’ Office of Safety, Infrastructure, and Operations (NA-50).
#MoreThanAJob
#PantexPride
Best of luck to Pantex Regional Middle School Science Bowl champions Hutchinson Middle School as they compete at
@DOE_SC_NSB
Official National Science Bowl ® today!
#nsb2023
Here's a little bit of history for you: Did you know, beginning in the 1950’s, one of the main components of shipping warheads to and from Pantex was by rail - on the aptly named “White Train"? Check out this video for more info:
#PantexPride
#TBT
1955: Guard trainees at
@PantexPlant
practice shooting from the hip as a trainer watches. They had to draw their weapons and fire 10 shots in 25 seconds. D.A. Griffith, second from left, worked there for 40 years and earned the nickname “Ricochet” for his shooting prowess.
Pantex welcomed representatives from
@tesu_edu
to sign a memorandum of understanding that could significantly reduce out-of-pocket expense for employees pursuing online degrees from the Trenton, N.J., school.
#PantexPride
#MoreThanAJob
Pantexans volunteered at the Texas Alliance for Minorities in Engineering
@TAMESTEM
Egg Drop Challenge recently at the Don Harrington Discovery Center
@DHDCamarillo
.
#PantexPride
Sixteen nonprofits in the Texas Panhandle recently received grants totaling $150,000 through the CNS Community Investment Fund administered by
@AmarilloArea
.
Months of planning and prep work went into administering the COVID-19 vaccine on site at Pantex. Our team worked with the
@CityofAmarillo
Public Health Dept. to learn best practices from their distribution. Find out more in our latest blog:
On International Day of the Girl, we celebrate young women and are proud to empower them through outreach and community education events in our area that encourage the pursuit of a career in STEM related fields.
#dayofthegirl
#STEM
#PantexPride
Lorenzo De Zavala Middle School and Lubbock High School recently represented Pantex Regional Science Bowl in the
@DOE_SC_NSB
. Each team won the Pantex Regional Science Bowl held earlier this spring and secured their spot to represent our region.
#PantexPride
#nationalsciencebowl
Thank you to all the Pantexans and food trucks who participated in last week’s wildfire relief event! It was a great day to come together and support the community.
#PantexPride
#CNSCares