In early June, a fire at the Lake Mariner data center in Somerset, New York, highlighted the dangers of corporate complexity. The Barker Fire Department found no safety alarms, no suppression systems, and three dead hydrants. Safety documents, which were supposed to guide them, burned in the blaze, leaving the crew in the dark.

The Lake Mariner site, a former coal mine, is part of a $3.2 billion AI data center project. TeraWulf, which owns and operates the facility, leases the land from a company owned by its CEO. Fluidstack, a UK-based AI company, will run the center. Google holds warrants for a 14% equity stake and will guarantee Fluidstack’s lease payments. Anthropic, among others, will use the facility’s compute power.

TeraWulf stated it was responsible for safety and coordinated with local first responders. Following an after-action review, the company introduced Knox boxes and safety data sheet “go-bags.” However, as of mid-August, the hydrants were still dry, according to Chief Steve Matisz of the Barker Fire Department. He said a representative from Knox boxes had visited and a meeting was scheduled to implement the program.

The corporate structure of the Lake Mariner data center serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by emergency services in handling complex and rapidly evolving industrial sites. Safety protocols and clear documentation are crucial, especially when dealing with high-tech facilities that can pose significant risks.