Kittery, Maine — The Groton-based USS Miami nuclear-powered attack submarine caught fire at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard late Wednesday afternoon.
The fire, which began at around 5:45 p.m., was still burning early Thursday morning but shipyard spokesman Capt. Bryant Fuller said in a statement that the situation was improving.
The fire injured six people, including a firefighter. The shipyard said the injured people were treated and released. The firefighter suffered heat exhaustion.
Shipyard public affairs specialist Gary Hildreth told the Herald that the fire was in the forward compartment of the ship and all nonessential personnel were ordered to evacuate.
The submarine's reactor was not operating when the fire started and was not affected by the blaze, shipyard spokeswoman Bridget Church said.