Watch CBS News

Officials Probe Flooding In Indian Point Nuclear Plant Electrical Room After Fire

BUCHANAN, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Federal regulators on Tuesday were investigating why water accumulated in a room of critical electrical equipment after a transformer fire at the Indian Point nuclear power plant.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission said Tuesday it has sent a team to the plant in Buchanan, in Westchester County.

A transformer at the non-nuclear part of the plant caught fire twice on Saturday, May 9. The fire destroyed the transformer, caused an oil spill and forced Indian Point 3 offline. It

The fire was put out by a built-in system as well as on-site and outside firefighters.

The commission said water appeared in the electrical room after the fire.

The commission said the room's electrical equipment, which was undamaged, powers plant safety systems.

A spokesman for Indian Point's owner said water from a sprinkler system flows to a floor drain in the electrical room by design, but did not drain as quickly as expected.

(TM and © Copyright 2015 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.