January 16, 2015

J-PARC Center
Japan Atomic Energy Agency
High Energy Accelerator Research Organization

Fire in the Materials and Life Science Experimental Facility

1. Date and Time of the Fire : 
   Approximately 15 : 01 on January 16, 2015
   
   
   
2. Site of the Fire : 
   2^nd Experimental Hall of the Materials and Life Science Experimental Facility of J-PARC (2^nd Class Radiation Controlled Area) , Nuclear Science Research Institute, Japan Atomic Energy Agency
   
   
   
3. Chronological Descriptions of the Fire : 
   The maintenance work of the power supply for electric magnets of a muon beam line had been carried out since 9:00 of January 16 2015.
   
   ⅰ. Around 14:30 : Electrical testing of the power supply with a newly installed transformer started. Due to unusual smell from the supply, doors of the power supply cabinet were opened around 14:57 to find the cause of the smell. The transformer caught fire around 15:01. The fire was immediately extinguished by a hand extinguisher.
   
   ⅱ. 15:01 : Call to 119 (the fire department).
   
   ⅲ. 15:11 : Fire engines arrived at the MLF
   
   ⅳ. 15:26 : The fire department judged this incident was "fire". At the same time they confirmed the extinguisher. The burned area is ∼30 cm x 20 cm (600 cm²) and the transformer was damaged.
   
   ⅴ. It was confirmed that there was no leakage of radioactive material to both inside and outside of the facility.

The accelerators stopped the beam operation and no muon beam was used.



4. Cause of the Fire : 
   Under investigation
   
   
   
5. Effects of the Fire : 
   No effects of radioactive material were observed in surrounding environments, and there were no injuries.