Read Up: Great Articles On Windscale Fire Nuclear Disaster
The Windscale Fire Disaster is one of the worst nuclear accidents to occur in the Western world -- however, it also seems to be among the least well known. It ranked a severity of 5 on the International Nuclear Event Scale (Chernobyl ranked at 7). Even so, it took over three decades for cleanup actions to take place and its real effects are still not understood.
For more in-depth information, check out the following hand-selected articles.
***
"Windscale Fire: 'We Were Too Busy To Panic'"
By Roger Highfield, The Telegraph
Vic Goodwin, a physicist at the scene of the disaster, describes the response methodology during Windscale's ordeal. Although the radioactive contamination could not be abated, workers did employ techniques that saved lives that day.
"Britain To Clean Atom Plant, Site Of Disastrous Fire In 1957"
By Associated Press
It took 30 years to start cleanup operations at Windscale. This article describes the beginnings of those actions, which took place just a year after Chernobyl.
"Windscale Fallout Underestimated"
By Rebecca Morelle, BBC News
Many are quick to dismiss the disaster's effects on the health of its region, however are those dismissals too quick? One new study produced findings that describe the journey Windscale's contamination took beyond the UK.
By David Fishlock, Nuclear Engineering International Magazine
What happened at Windscale did some good -- an overhaul of safety techniques was implemented in the years following it. But at what cost? Interviews of those affected by the disaster reveal the indelible marks made on both environment and society.
"Accident At Windscale: World's First Atomic Alarm"
By Hartley Howe, Popular Science
This article appeared in 1958, just a year after the disaster took place. Take a look at early nuclear power reporting and early priorities surrounding atomic energy.
