Federal and Navy firefighters are continuing to battle a ferocious blaze aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard on Monday morning – with the inferno likely to rage for several more days, officials have warned.
More than 160 people had been aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard docked at the San Diego Naval Base in California when a fire started in the lower cargo hold of the ship and triggered an internal explosion at 8:30am Sunday.
Officials say at least 57 people – including 34 sailors and 23 civilians – were injured in the blaze that sent billowing plumes of smoke and ash into the sky.
The injuries were not life-threatening, and included heat exhaustion and smoke inhalation, according to officials.
All crew members have since been evacuated and accounted for, the Navy said, and five sailors remain in hospital in a stable condition.
Efforts to extinguish the fire on the amphibious assault ship continued Monday morning, with nearly 24 hours having passed since the blaze first erupted
In a photo provided by the U.S. Navy, sailors and Federal Fire San Diego firefighters work to extinguish a fire aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard
The smoke billowing from the vessel darkened the San Diego skyline and could be visible for miles
At least 21 people including 17 sailors and four civilians were hospitalized with minor injuries on Sunday following a massive fire and explosion on board the Navy ship
Rear Admiral Philip Sobeck said that all of the injured are listed in stable condition
It’s not immediately clear what caused the fire of the explosion. Rear Admiral Philip Sobeck the Navy’s commander of Expeditionary Strike Group 3, said during a press conference that the fire was not a fueled by fuel oil, hazardous materials or electrical causes.
Sobek said it was fueled by paper, cloth, rags or other materials in a standard fire. He said he is not concerned about the air quality or toxicity around the blaze.
Sources told The Drive that loud explosions were heard coming from the ship, and that the source of the fire may be from below the waterline, though this information has yet to be confirmed.
During his press conference, Sobek added that military and civilian firefighters were still trying to save the ship and optimistically vowed that it will return to service.
‘We’re absolutely going to make sure it sails again,’ he said. ‘Right now we’re going to fight the fire and then we’ll work on understanding what exactly happened to make sure she sails as best as possible in a very near time.’
However, the fate of the vessel, which is in the middle of its service life, remains uncertain with Fire Chief Colin Stowell of San Diego telling CNN that he expects the fire to burn for several days – ‘right down to the waterline’.
Firefighting boats spray water onto the U.S. Navy amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard
The US Navy said that 17 sailors and four civilians were injured by an explosion aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard at Naval Base San Diego on Sunday
The sailors on the USS Bonhomme Richard had ‘minor injuries’ from the fire and were taken to a hospital, according to a Navy spokesperson
Efforts to extinguish the fire on the amphibious assault ship continued Monday morning, with nearly 24 hours having passed since the blaze first erupted. Local news footage showed a thick plume of black smoke rising from the ship.
Two helicopters from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 3 started helicopter water bucket aerial firefighting operations at 4:30am local time Monday.
In addition, fireboats have been pouring water on the ship’s hull in order to keep it cool in an attempt to maintain its integrity as the fire continues to rage.
Firefighting efforts have involved personnel from Naval Base San Diego and the City of San Diego Fire Department, along with Harbor Police fire boats and fire teams from other ships, according to the Navy.
A shelter in place was ordered Sunday evening for all non-responding personnel at the base to maintain a 1,800-yard safety perimeter as the firefight continues.
Two other warships, the USS Fitzgerald and the USS Russell, that were docked nearby have since been moved to other piers as a precaution, the Navy said.
Firefighters were battling a three-alarm blaze aboard the ship after the explosion took place during routine maintenance
The above image shows an aerial view of the US Navy ship USS Bonhomme Richard after the explosion
People pose for a picture in front of the San Diego skyline as smoke rises from a fire on board the U.S. Navy amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard at Naval Base San Diego
A golfer plays on as a fire burns on the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard at Naval Base San Diego
Golfers play on as a fire burns on the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard at Naval Base San Diego on Sunday
The image above provides another angle of the massive fire aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard at Naval Base San Diego on Sunday
San Diego’s top firefighter said the blaze on board the ship could burn for days ‘down to the waterline’
A massive fire and explosion on board a Navy ship at Naval Base San Diego has injured several sailors and sent billowing plumes of smoke and ash into the sky
This close up show shows how smoke enveloped the 840-foot ship Sunday morning. There were 200 sailors and officers on board at the time
The vessel was undergoing routine maintenance at the time of the fire. Naval Base San Diego is the ship’s home port. It’s still not clear what sparked the blaze
By 12.30pm PST the entire crew was cleared off the ship and accounted for and 18 people were sent to the hospital with minor injuries
The Bonhomme Richard is capable of carrying more than 1,000 sailors, in addition to helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft. The cost of the ship has been estimated $761 million, according to the Federation of American Scientists.
The ship had been docked in the San Diego base to undergo routine maintenance between deployments when the fire broke out, Navy spokeswoman Krishna Jackson said.
Jackson told the New York Times that the sailors assigned to the ship at the time were staying in Navy or private housing on shore and were not on board when the fire started. A ‘duty section’ of sailors trained to fight fires were, however, of whom were first to respond.
Admiral Sobeck said that there was no ordnance on the ship at the time of the fire. The ship has light arms but would not normally have large explosive munitions, such as airdropped bombs, on board while docked, according to the Navy.
The fire broke out around 8.51am on Sunday and San Diego Fire Rescue rushed to the scene
Firefighter pictured erecting a crane to battle the blaze Sunday morning
All SDFD personnel has been accounted for as of 11.19am, according to San Diego Fire authorities. No firefighters have been injured so far
A view of the smoking naval ship above. It’s unclear what sparked the fire and explosion
The USS Bonhomme Richard is an assault-style ship that’s outfitted to carry landing craft and transfer equipment, troops and landing boats.
The ship’s last deployment was in 2018.
Firefighters from San Diego along with the unified command Federal Fire are battling the flames.
The Naval Surface Forces of the US Pacific Fleet added that local, base and shipboard firefighters are responding to the blaze.
All SDFD personnel has been accounted for as of 11.19am, according to San Diego Fire authorities. No firefighters have been injured so far.
Massive clouds of smoke enveloped the base in Sunday morning’s fire
The USS Bonhomme Richard is an assault-style ship that’s outfitted to carry landing craft and transfer equipment, troops and landing boats. The ship’s last deployment was in 2018
San Diego Fire-Rescue said 150 firefighters were sent out to quell the inferno.
Shocking video as emerged showing the moment an explosion went off on the Naval ship.
The keel for the Bonhomme Richard was laid down in 1995 and she was delivered to the Navy in 1998.
The 23-year-old ship has the capacity to deploy and land helicopters, smaller boats and amphibious vehicles.
Because of its age, a fire could be particularly destructive, especially if it reached the engine room and other tight spaces with machinery, said Lawrence B. Brennan, a professor of admiralty and international maritime law at Fordham University in New York.
‘The heat of a fire of this nature can warp the steel, and that can be a major problem for any ship,’ said Brennan.
‘On an older ship, it’s even more of a problem.’
Two other docked ships, USS Fitzgerald and USS Russell, were moved to berths away from the fire, officials said.
Sailors aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) don fire fighting equipment to combat a fire aboard the ship
Several of the sailors on board the ship prepare to fight the fire on Sunday evening
Local, base and shipboard firefighters responded to the fire. USS Bonhomme Richard is going through a maintenance availability, which began in 2018