Fire Extinguished On Russian Nuclear Submarine

Firefighters at a shipyard in northern Russia partially flooded a nuclear-powered submarine to extinguish a blaze that started aboard the vessel.

Zvyozdochka shipyard spokesman Yevgeny Gladyshev said the fire that had been burning in the rubber lining between the inner and outer hulls of the Oryol submarine on April 7 has been completely put out.

The shipyard is in the northern port of Severodvinsk near the White Sea.

Initial efforts to put the fire out failed and led to authorities allowing water from the North Dvina River into the dock where the vessel was being repaired and then allowed water into the submarine.

The submarine was in the shipyard for repairs and officials said there were no weapons aboard and the nuclear reactor on the vessel had been turned off months ago.

Based on reporting by TASS and Interfax