Mail zapped for anthrax catches fire

BRIDGEPORT, N.J. -- Batches of mail being treated with radiation to eliminate possible anthrax contamination caught fire, apparently because some material overheated, officials said Friday.

Hundreds of large envelopes and magazines -- 90 pounds in all -- were destroyed during two small fires, one Thursday and one early Friday, the Postal Service said.

"Our engineers believe both incidents are linked to material present in the mail which cause overheating during radiation exposure," said John Gilbert, spokesman for Ion Beam Applications, which operates the plant where the irradiation is being done. "We feel these two incidents are regrettable but expected."

There were no injuries or damage to the plant.

The mail is from Washington D.C.'s shuttered Brentwood postal facility, Walton said. Two workers there died after inhaling anthrax.