--EDANO just said the fire at No. 4 was NOT nuclear fuel--

[Poll_Blind]

They're attempting to put out the fire currently.

PB

[Statistical]

1. Which would make sense given that #4 isn't even operational. n/t

[Tx4obama]

2. I believe that there are rods in No.4 that still need to be cooled.

Even though it was shut down, the rods are still in there.

[Statistical]

9. #4 has been shutdown for months prior to the earthquake.

It is undergoing inspection and refit.

[Bluerthanblue]

13. the rods stay hot for a LONG time from what I understand, and must

be kept cooled in water.

This info might be a bit alarmist, but living in the shadow of VT yankee, I can't help but consider the information Arne Gunderson offers-

http://my.firedoglake.com/kirkmurphy/2011/03/14/nuke-engineer-fuel-rod-fire-at-stricken-reactor-would-be-like-chernobyl-on-steroids/

[Poll_Blind]

3. I think the fear was that spent nuclear fuel, stored above the cores, might...

...face some sort of collapse of it's containment system and that that was the cause of the fire. But that does not appear to be the case.

PB

[stranger81]

4. I think they're talking about Fukishima Daini plant, not Daiishi.

Daiishi is the one where reactor 4 is not operating. Don't know what the status of the reactors at Daini is.

[flamingdem]

6. It contains spent fuel apparently nt

[Bluerthanblue]

8. which begs the question, why is it on fire if it isn't operational- unless

the spent rods weren't able to be kept cool.

I sure hope this isn't what is happening.

[Statistical]

11. Nuclear plant have numerous conventional industrial equipment.

Generators, heavy lift machinery, vehicles, cranes, power distribution panels, high voltage lighting, solvent stores, etc.
The fire *could* be conventional fire.

[daleo]

12. Good question.

This looks like a slow motion disaster. I am reminded of Katrina.

[tahrir]

5. Everything they have said since day 1 is very suspect at this point - the situation is out of contro

Do they still consider this a 4 on scale of 0 to 7?

:cry:

[flamingdem]

7. They said it's a 5 last I read, but for sure it's a 6 - not local for long - or 7 soon nt

[originalpckelly]

10. Precisely.

If I was Japanese, I'd be preparing some jail cells for these folks, because this is criminal negligence.

[Joe the Revelator]

15. Oh give me a break

[applegrove]

14. I emailed this to someone in Japan. Thanks for posting it.

[Hannah Bell]

16. the fire is out.

http://yokosonews.com/live/