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Fire In Seabrook's Elevator Shaft Declared "Unusual Event"

SEABROOK, N.H. (AP) -- Smoke in an elevator prompted the Seabrook nuclear power plant in New Hampshire to declare "an unusual event," but officials say no one was hurt and the incident did not affect plant safety.

Spokesman David Barr says no one was in the elevator when someone noticed smoke coming from a transformer just before noon Monday. The plant's firefighters quickly disconnected the power to the elevator.

WBZ-TV's Jim Armstrong reports.

Because the incident lasted more than 15 minutes, the plant was required to declare the unusual event, the lowest level emergency.

Seabrook Station, owned by NextEra Energy, has been operating since 1990. Its existing license runs out in 2030, but it applied in June to extend its license to 2050.

(© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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