PORTSMOUTH — Lt. Sean Houle never thought he would be fighting a fire aboard a submarine as a member of the Somersworth Fire Department. But that is what he did alongside hundreds of other firefighters from around New England as they battled a blaze in the forward compartment of the USS Miami at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard on May 23.

On Monday, U.S. Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) came to Prescott Park to recognize those men and women for their efforts over 10 hours that night to prevent further damage to the submarine and loss of life, and extinguish the fire.

On June 7, the U.S. Senate passed a resolution commending the firefighters and emergency personnel of 23 Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Connecticut departments who joined forces to keep the flames from reaching nuclear material.

The submarine’s reactor was unaffected and stable throughout the fire.

“We are here because we thought it was important to actually have an event that honors those firefighters that risked their lives aboard the Miami,” Shaheen said.

Shaheen said 75 rotations of firefighters worked to combat the blaze.

Portsmouth fire Capt. Ken Smith was one of many firefighters who went below decks to fight the fire in crowded and blinding conditions.

He said in his 26-year career, he had never experienced anything like it. He described the fire as “intense.”

He credited a weeklong shipboard firefighting program he attended several years ago with helping him work within the unique conditions.

“These firefighters from throughout New England who came together as a team … reminds us not only of what they did on May 23 … but of the difficult job our emergency responders have every single day,” Ayotte said.

Seven people suffered minor injuries.

“Some people say it’s heroism, our guys say ‘we’re just doing our job.’ That’s what we do, we just do our job,” David Lang, president of the Professional Firefighters of New Hampshire, said.

A word used often during the ceremony was teamwork.

Lang said Seacoast area fire departments are regularly working together through mutual aid systems. He said some smaller departments have to in order to meet federal minimum standards for necessary fire personnel on scenes.

He said it is nice for the departments, as a group, to be recognized.

Portsmouth fire Lt. Bill McQuillen, who is involved with the Professional Firefighters of New Hampshire, concurred.

“In these times, when often we hear about public employees as public enemies, like the New Hampshire Legislature wants to make us out to be, it is nice to see some legislators who truly believe in what we do and what we stand for,” McQuillen said.

Cmdr. James Kalowsky is serving as the acting Portsmouth Naval Shipyard commander while Capt. Bryant Fuller is away on leave this week, and he said the fire aboard the USS Miami is the worst fire he has witnessed at a shipyard.

He said the damage to the submarine is significant, cleanup is ongoing, and they are still determining what repairs are needed.

gmacalaster@newstote.com