Wildfires that began early this month are still burning in and around Los
Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico. Last week, they destroyed most of the
remaining buildings where the first atomic bombs were assembled鈥攊ncluding
the Manhattan Project’s historic V Site complex, which was used for the first
nuclear test on 16 July 1945. Ironically, this was recently designated an
“American Treasure”. Officials have not reported any damage to modern labs or
facilities that handle nuclear or other hazardous materials.
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