Canadian Sub Emergency

(Halifax, Nova Scotia) An updated report indicates that the fires onboard the HMCS Chicoutimi were worse than originally reported. Three sailors were airlifted to an Irish hospital where one is described in "critical" condition. Although the boat is without propulsion bouncing in rough seas, one diesel generator and the battery are providing ventilation and lighting.

Nine crew members suffered minor injuries while fighting the fires which, according to Commodore Tyrone Pile, Commander of the Canadian Fleet Atlantic, was major and caused extensive damage to cabling.

The cause of the [first] fire was still unknown, Pile said. However, it burned on both the first and the second deck, badly damaging Captain Luc Pelletier's cabin and the electrical equipment room.

A second "minor' fire erupted in the oxygen generator after the first had been extinguished. Currently, rescue vessels are attending to the boat with towing to the British Naval Base in Faslane, Scotland, expected to begin tomorrow.

Interestingly, the fires on the submarine have led to fiery arguments in the Canadian House of Commons. The Conservatives are saying the Liberals are neglecting the Canadian Armed Forces.

"They wanted a military capability on the cheap. This is a pattern with the Liberals," Conservative defence critic Gordon O'Connor, a retired army general, told reporters on Tuesday.

So, the Liberals support the military except when it comes to paying for it. The Liberals counter the Conservative argument by stating that this is not the time to be asking questions.

[Update 10/06/04, 2055EDT] The critically injured submariner, Lieut. Chris Saunders, from Saint John, N.B., died while being transferred to the hospital. The news is devastating to Saunders' wife and two small children who earlier were informed that everyone was fine. Poor communications have been blamed. Late Wednesday, Prime Minister Paul Martin announced the death to a hushed House of Commons.