KITTERY, Maine — Six hours after it began, a fire continued to burn aboard a nuclear-powered submarine undergoing overhaul at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, injuring six people on Wednesday night, according to the yard's commander.
While the fire - located mainly in the USS Miami's living areas and in control spaces - continues to burn, the situation is improving, said Base Commander Capt. Bryant Fuller in a statement to the media at about 11:30 p.m. Six people were injured fighting the fire and were either treated at the scene or transported to a hospital, he said. One of the injured was a firefighter who suffered heat exhaustion but who was conscious and alert, said Fuller.
According to Fuller, the cause of the fire is still unknown but a full investigation would follow. He said the nuclear reactor is not active and that there are no weapons aboard the ship.
Steam was still visible at the scene late Wednesday night, due to intense heat from the blaze combined with firefighters' efforts, said Fuller.
Firefighters were initially called to the Shipyard just before 6 p.m. for a report of a fire on a ship in dry dock. Fire crews encountered heavy smoke and fire, and two firefighters were taken from the scene with injuries, the officials said, adding two more firefighters were later taken from the scene for treatment. At 7:30 p.m., black smoke was visible from Prescott Park in Portsmouth, N.H., billowing from the dry dock and a Portsmouth fire truck was on standby at Peirce Island.
Just after 10 p.m., the fire aboard the submarine, docked at Dry Dock 2, went to four alarms and fire dispatchers were describing the fire as "moderate."
Numerous departments from local communities responded. At 10:45 p.m. a Portsmouth ambulance was called to Gate 1 of the shipyard, according to radio communications. Shortly afterwards, an engine and a foam trailer from Logan Airport in Boston, Mass., arrived at the scene. According to the Boston Sparks Association, a fire buff club founded in 1938, an engine from the submarine base in Groton, Conn. was also responding. Apparatus from Hanscom Air Force Base in Massachusetts arrived shortly after 11 p.m.
Shipyard public affairs specialist Gary Hildreth said the fire is located in the forward compartment of the ship and all nonessential personnel were ordered to evacuate.
The submarine's reactor was not operating at the time the fire started and was not affected by the blaze, shipyard spokeswoman Bridget Church said.
Church said state, local and federal authorities have been alerted to the situation.
Kittery Police Chief Paul Callaghan said the Police Department has not received any requests from the shipyard to evacuate residents living in the area. He said the fire aboard the USS Miami is not posing a danger to the general public.
Callaghan said Kittery firefighters are on standby at the shipyard's fire station.
Shipyard gates are open and workers are to report as scheduled on Thursday morning, said Fuller, who thanked surrounding communities for their support during the emergency.
Residents in some parts of Kittery reported a smell of burning plastic in the air, and sirens from fire apparatus were heard throughout the night.
The USS Miami (SSN 755) and its crew of 13 officers and 120 enlisted personnel arrived at the Navy Yard on March 1 to undergo maintenance work and system upgrades.
It is the third vessel named for the city of Miami and the fifth so-called improved Los Angeles-class nuclear-powered submarine, according to the Navy. The Miami was commissioned June 30, 1990, and its home port is Groton, Conn.
The submarine's commanding officer is Commander Roger E. Meyer, who assumed command on Sept. 20, 2010. The Miami's host community is Sanford.
- AP
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