Nuclear research ended at the site in 1988 and rocket testing stopped in 2006. The defunct, 2,800-acre federal research complex—once jointly occupied by NASA, the Department of Energy and Boeing—still has radioactive and chemical contamination. Boeing has owned the site since 1996.

“The fire has not reached the Santa Susana Field Laboratory,” added Dowd, noting residents can track updates online.

All these years later, the SSFL cleanup plan still has not been finalized.