The following report was received via fax:
An employee of GET [Geotechnical Environmental Testing] went home with a Troxler 3430 portable gauge in the bed of his work truck. The employee mishandled charcoal embers after cooking dinner on a grill, which caused the bed of the truck to start on fire. A neighbor noticed the fire and called 911 . When the fire trucks arrived, the employee discovered it was his truck on fire and talked with the VA Beach fire personnel. He stated that a portable gauge containing radioactive material was in the bed of the truck. The VA Beach hazmat team was contacted and arrived on scene. The fire was extinguished and surveys were performed by the hazmat team indicating 1 mR/hr, a normal. reading for a secured gauge. The GET employee began to contact management regarding the situation. The VA Beach GET RSO was on vacation so the North Carolina GET RSO responded and also performed surveys when he arrived. Survey readings indicated the sources were in their shielded position. The RSO was able to package the damaged gauge into another transportation case and return it to the VA Beach office. GET has contacted Troxler and has sent a swab for leak test analysis. The gauge will be returned to Troxler after verification of the sources not leaking. There is no threat to public health or safety from this event. The Virginia RMP [Radiological Materials Program] will be performing an investigation and inspection.
Media attention: Yes, two local news stations ran a story this morning on the incident.
VA Report ID: VA-13-06