Fires extinguished aboard USS Bonhomme Richard, Navy says

Fires that began on Sunday and ravaged the USS Bonhomme Richard have been quenched, the Navy announced Thursday.

“After four days of firefighting, all known fires have been extinguished aboard USS Bonhomme Richard,” Rear Adm. Philip E. Sobeck, who commands Expeditionary Strike Group Three, said in a statement.

“We did not know the origin of the fire,” Sobeck also said. “We do not know the extent of the damage. It is too early to make any predictions or promises of what the future of the ship will be.”

The amphibious assault ship caught fire Sunday morning while in port for repairs at Naval Base San Diego.

Some 63 people – 40 sailors and 23 civilians – were treated for minor injuries. None are hospitalized, the Navy said. Efforts to put out the fire persisted until today, Sobeck said.

“We had support from the air and sea,” he said. “Three helicopter squadrons conducted more than 1,500 water bucket drops, fighting the fire and cooling the super structure and flight deck enabling fire crews to get onboard to fight the fire. Tugs also provided firefighting support from the waterline, cooling the ship’s hull.”

The Navy is investigating how the fire began, Sobeck said.