Lightning Strike at Radford Army Ammunition Plant Causes Power Outage

At approximately 4:00 a.m. on April 28, 2026, a lightning strike caused a power outage at the Radford Army Ammunition Plant (RFAAP), resulting in a brief, localized venting of vapor from the facility.

All personnel immediately sheltered in place per emergency safety procedures. Two security personnel were transported to a hospital for evaluation due to potential fume exposure. The RFAAP emergency response team managed the situation, with Pulaski County, Montgomery County, and the Virginia Hazardous Materials Response Team on standby.

The U.S. Army confirmed there was no danger to the surrounding off-post community, although residents nearby may have heard shelter-in-place alarms.

RFAAP, operated by BAE Systems under a contract extending through December 2026, is the only manufacturer and supplier of military-grade nitrocellulose in North America. The plant has invested over $700 million in environmental upgrades in the last decade and anticipates starting operations at a new $145 million Energetic Waste Incinerator in June 2026, expected to reduce open burning by 95%.