Date of Incident: 05 October 2004
Returned to Service: Unknown
On 05 October 2004, an electrical fire broke out aboard HMCS Chicoutimi (SS-879), a newly recommissioned Victoria-class diesel electric submarine. HMSC Chicoutimi (ex-HMS Upholder) had just been recommissioned on 02 October at the Royal Navy submarine base at Faslane, Scotland. She was enroute to her new homeport of Halifax, Nova Scotia and was just off the Irish coast when the fire broke out.
Nine men suffered from smoke inhalation and one, LT Chris Saunders, died after being airlifted from the submarine.
A formal inquiry has been launched. Once OFFICIAL results are made public, that information will be posted here, and an analysis made.
(Office Canadian Navy press releases, various news reports)
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