US Naval vessel catches fire in San Diego

[Stevicus]

Bonhomme Richard On Fire - Navy Ship Fire San Diego News, Updates

• USS Bonhomme Richard, an amphibious assault ship, caught fire pierside in San Diego on Sunday morning.
  
• The fire quickly raced through the ship, which was lightly manned.
• The fire has injured 57 people so far, and is so serious that Bonhomme Richard may never return to service.

The amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard is seriously damaged and still on fire more than a day after a blaze broke out in the ship’s interior. The fire, which has injured 57 military and civilian personnel as of press time, is so serious that the ship may be a total loss. If so, Bonhomme Richard could be the largest U.S. ship lost since World War II, and arguably the first aircraft carrier lost since 1945.

They're still investigating the cause of the fire.

The Navy Times reports that the fire started in the lower vehicle storage area of the Bonhomme Richard, in the “Deep V” cargo hold in the middle of the ship (see #16 and #17 in the diagram above). But other sources say the fire started in the landing craft well, as an explosion reportedly shook the ship while sailors were evacuating. Hours after the fire broke out, the Navy reported all sailors assigned to the ship were accounted for.

Fire crews fought the fire well into the night, but the blaze continued to spread inside the ship. By midnight, the fire had risen up through the ship to engulf the ship’s bridge. Bonhomme Richard, designed to launch aerial assaults, features an island overlooking the ship’s vast flight deck, with the bridge located in the front of the island. This indicates the fire has risen several levels from deep inside to break out onto the flight deck and above.

It appears the ship may not be able to return to service.

 

[Nakosis]

I saw it reported on FOX news. I figured it was probably fake.

 

[lostwanderingsoul]

Blame the Chinese. Or Demacrates.

 

[Twilight Hue]

.... Or Demacrates.

Is that greek or roman? Fella sounds like such a cad. =O)

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

Looks like they have now found a fatal flaw in that class of ship.
fire has always been the most feared disaster on a ship.

 

[Stevicus]

This could be a real disaster.

59 injured in fire aboard ship at Naval Base San Diego

SAN DIEGO —

Hundreds of sailors are fighting to save a Navy warship ravaged by fire while the military prepares for the worst: The USS Bonhomme Richard going down in flames, and its million gallons of oil on board spilling into San Diego harbor, resulting in a major environmental disaster.

The U.S. Coast Guard has hired an oil clean-up crew to put in place a containment boom that could be ready if any oil is spilled. It also halted boat and air traffic within a nautical mile of the vessel.

Millions of gallons of oil could spill into San Diego harbor.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

This could be a real disaster.

59 injured in fire aboard ship at Naval Base San Diego



Millions of gallons of oil could spill into San Diego harbor.

That would include aviation spirit, which is even harder to lift. and might well catch fire.
it is probably what is burning now.

 

[Stevicus]

Bonhomme Richard fire released toxic chemicals into San Diego air, tests say

July 28 (UPI) -- Testing results released this week by the San Diego County Air Pollution Control District reveal that a Navy ship fire earlier this month blanketed communities nearby with smoke containing toxic chemicals.

The San Diego Union Tribune reported Monday that as fires burned aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard earlier in July, residents were exposed to a dozen potentially dangerous chemicals, including benzene, chloromethane and acetonitrile.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

China has just announced that they are building another of that class of assault vessel.
Perhaps they will make theirs a bit more fireproof and battle worthy.

Or perhaps they will build "two for the price of one" and offer one to the US Navy to see if they burn.

 

[Stevicus]

Ship's destruction after fire caused by repeated failures, Navy says (msn.com)

 

[Subduction Zone]

It is not the first time: