Editing Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant (section)

=== 1991 reactor #2 turbine fire ===
[[File:Reactor Hall of Unit 2, Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant.webm|thumb|right|250px|Unit # 2 (video shot in 2016)]]
Reactor No. 2 was permanently shut down shortly after October 1991 when a fire broke out due to a faulty switch in a turbine.<ref name="nrc">{{cite web | url=https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/fact-sheets/chernobyl-bg.html | title=Backgrounder on Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant Accident | access-date=January 16, 2011 | publisher=US Nuclear Regulatory Commission | archive-date=March 5, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110305132605/http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/fact-sheets/chernobyl-bg.html | url-status=live }}</ref>

On 11 October 1991, a fire broke out in the turbine hall of reactor No. 2.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/10/12/world/fire-reported-in-generator-area-at-the-chernobyl-nuclear-plant.html|title=Fire Reported in Generator Area At the Chernobyl Nuclear Plant|date=October 12, 1991|work=The New York Times|access-date=March 10, 2016|archive-date=March 6, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306122906/http://www.nytimes.com/1991/10/12/world/fire-reported-in-generator-area-at-the-chernobyl-nuclear-plant.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The fire began in reactor No. 2's fourth turbine, while the turbine was being idled for repairs. A faulty switch caused a surge of current to the generator, igniting insulating material on some electrical wiring.<ref>[https://www.baltimoresun.com/1991/10/13/roof-fire-at-chernobyl-intensifies-ukrainian-calls-to-close-nuclear-plant/ Roof fire at Chernobyl intensifies Ukrainian calls to close nuclear plant]  Baltimore Sun (October 13, 1991).</ref> This subsequently led to hydrogen, used as a coolant in the synchronous generator, being leaked into the turbine hall "which apparently created the conditions for fire to start in the roof and for one of the trusses supporting the roof to collapse."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Schmemann |first=Serge |date=1991-10-13 |title=Soviets Assure Safety at A-Plant Damaged by Fire |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/10/13/world/soviets-assure-safety-at-a-plant-damaged-by-fire.html |access-date=2024-05-22 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The adjacent reactor hall and reactor were unaffected, but due to the political climate it was decided to shut down this reactor permanently after this incident.