Fire leads to evacuation of historic USS Midway in San Diego

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Authorities say crews have doused a small, smoky fire aboard the USS Midway Museum that forced the evacuation of the historic aircraft carrier in San Diego.

City Fire-Rescue spokesman Lee Swanson says the blaze was reported around 5:30 a.m. Wednesday two levels below the flight deck.

Swanson says the fire was likely related to welding done by a construction crew working on the ship overnight, although investigators haven't confirmed that.

He didn't know how many people were aboard when the blaze broke out, but no injuries have been reported.

Swanson didn't immediately know the extent of the damage or if the museum would be open Wednesday.

The museum opened in 2004 and hosts as many as a million visitors a year. It has about 200 employees and 650 volunteers.