A fire broke out on a Russian nuclear submarine on Monday, burning for five hours before naval officials extinguished the blaze and reported that no one was hurt, nor had any radioactive materials leaked.
The two nuclear reactors that were housed in the submarine had been deactivated before the fire began at the Zvezda shipyard in Bolshoi Kamen, located just 15 miles from the Sea of Japan, Reuters reported.
"There is no threat of radioactive contamination," Itar-Tass news agency reported an official for Russia's Pacific Fleet command as saying.
Shipyard workers had taken the arsenal of torpedoes and missiles off the submarine, named Tomsk, as well, canceling out the risk of an explosion, the New York Times reported. The submarine usually carries anywhere from five to 24 guided missiles.
Once smoke started filling the submarine, flames licking the walls of the craft, the crew was forced to evacuate. No one was hurt as a result of the fire.
United Shipbuilding Corporation, the company that runs the shipyard, issued a statement shortly after the event, saying that both reactors on board had been turned off and were in "safe conditions."
Russian officials sent a ship monitoring radiation levels to the site of the fire, joining firefighters that worked for hours drenching the entire area in extinguishing materials, to ensure the flames didn't start up again.
Russian news service RIA stated that the fire began when sparks from welding material used for repair work ignited. The flames began between two hulls, where the nuclear reactors were stationed. But a thick inner hull separated the two nuclear reactors, and only paint and insulation materials were burnt. Firefighters reached the two hulls and extinguished the flames with foam.
