Texas nuclear weapons facility shut down amid wildfire threat

"The fire near Pantex has not yet been contained. We are contemplating evacuation. Currently, only a minimal number of employees are on site," the company explained.

Since 1975, Pantex, situated in West Texas, has served as the chief site for assembling and disassembling atomic bombs in the USA. The facility assembled its last new bomb in 1991 and has since dismantled thousands of pieces of weaponry, according to AP.

The rapidly spreading fire in Panhandle County grew more than twofold in size on Tuesday. It triggered evacuation orders in several small towns as a combination of strong winds, dry vegetation, and unusually high temperatures exacerbated the situation in rural areas.

Republican Governor Greg Abbott has declared a state of disaster for 60 counties.

"Texans are urged to limit activities that could create sparks & take precautions to keep their loved ones safe," Abbott advised.