Fire Destroys US Air Force Missile Support SiteA US Army nuclear missile support facility in North Dakota was destroyed by a fire Thursday, November 30.The fire forced 13 workers to flee and two missile crew members to seal themselves in a protective chamber underground. The reports quoted an army official as saying that no one was injured because of the fire, which broke out Thursday morning, and the 10 Minuteman intercontinental ballistic missiles in the area were "safe and secure." The missiles were being monitored by the underground two-member crew, who closed their "blast doors" and continued their duties in a self-contained operation as the fire raged, according to the reports. The fire apparently began in a room containing diesel fuel, but investigators have not yet determined how the fire ignited. There are 15 minuteman missile alert facilities at the Minot Air Force Base, and each controls 10 Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles. |
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