[Photos] [Updated] Russian Nuclear Submarine Fire Put Out

The fire aboard a Russian nuclear submarine in a shipyard in Russia's northern province of Arkhangelsk has been put out. The fire started near the stern during welding work that caused insulation materials to catch fire.

Sources have reported that there were no weapons onboard the submarine at the time of the fire, and that the vessel’s nuclear reactor had been shut down at the start of repairs a few years ago.

Welders were working on the K-266 Oryol, an Oscar II-class nuclear-powered submarine, when the fire started. The sub is part of Russia’s Northern Fleet and was taken to the shipyard for a scheduled overhaul which is expected to last until 2016.

"There is no threat of environmental or radioactive contamination as the result of the incident," said the state-owned United Shipbuilding Corporation which runs the Zvyozdochka shipyard where the 155-meter (500 ft) 949 Antei submarine was being repaired. The dry dock where the vessel had been repaired was flooded with water to help put out the blaze.

There has been no report of any injuries.

A blaze in 2011 nearly led to a nuclear disaster as it engulfed a nuclear-powered submarine carrying atomic weapons, a leading Russian magazine reported months later, contradicting official assurances that it was not armed.

In August 2000, during his first term as president, Vladimir Putin faced criticism for not acting quickly over the sinking of a nuclear-powered submarine on which all 118 people aboard died.

Video of the fire is available here.