Navy: $400M sub fire started in vacuum cleaner

KITTERY, Maine (AP) -- The Navy says preliminary findings suggest a fire aboard a dry-docked submarine started in a vacuum cleaner stored in an unoccupied space aboard the sub. It also confirms the sub needs about $400 million in repairs.

A statement from the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard on Wednesday said the vacuum was used to clean up work sites aboard the USS Miami. It says details on the cause of the fire will be released once an investigation into the May 23 fire is completed.

The repair cost estimate allows the Navy to begin lining up funding.

The nuclear-powered submarine was severely damaged by the fire that broke out while the ship was in dry dock at the shipyard. The Navy says its investigation is ongoing and more information is expected in two weeks.