A Canadian submarine caught fire 180 kilometres northwest of Ireland on Tuesday, sparking a major alert. The submarine sent out a distress signal when heavy smoke began to spread throughout the vessel, the BBC reported. Three members of the HMCS Chicoutimi's crew suffered smoke inhalation, a Royal Navy spokesman said. A Canadian Forces spokeswoman confirmed that the crew was safe and that no-one needed to be taken from the vessel, the BBC said. The diesel-electric submarine was on its way to Canada from Britain when the blaze broke out, following an electrical fault. Britain sent a Royal Air Force Nimrod plane and a Royal Navy Sea King helicopter to the stricken sub, which was on the surface.
