PNSY Officials: Vacuum Cleaner Caused USS Miami Fire

A vacuum cleaner has been identified as the cause of a fire that heavily damaged the USS Miami nuclear submarine at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard on May 23.

Portsmouth Naval Shipyard officials issued a press release on Wednesday afternoon which stated that Navy investigators believe this was the cause of the .

"Preliminary findings indicate the fire started in a vacuum cleaner used to clean worksites at end of shift, and stored in an unoccupied space. Specific details as to the cause and subsequent damage assessment are still being evaluated as part of on-going investigations and will be released at a later date," reads a press release issued by Danna Eddy of the Shipyard's public affairs office.

Eddy noted that Shipyard workers were allowed to return to work on the nuclear submarine's forward compartment last week "to begin cleanup and support damage assessment as well as to continue work in other areas throughout the ship."

The was first reported shortly before 8 p.m. on May 23 and dozens of Seacoast area firefighters battled the blaze well into the early morning hours of May 24. Navy officials have stressed the fire never threatened the submarine's nuclear reactor, which is located on the other end of the vessel, and that there were no weapons onboard.

Since that time, Eddy wrote the first phase of the clean-up process, which included dewatering the ship and installation of temporary lighting, staging, and other elements, has been completed.

She said the Navy plans to award a cleaning services contract later this week for the next phase of the USS Miami repair work.

Shipyard officials also confirmed earlier reports that the Navy believes it will cost an estimated $400 million to repair the USS Miami on top of an additional 10 percent for disruption to other planned work across all Naval Shipyards, and the potential need to contract work to the private sector.

"This estimate was developed so that funding can be identified to support the repairs, which would be accomplished at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. This estimate will be refined as more data is gathered and testing completed," Eddy wrote in the press release.

She also noted that Navy engineers are conducting a full technical assessment including internal and external hull surveys and damage assessments to develop a detailed cost estimate to restore the forward end compartment.