Navy charges sailor in connection with USS Bonhomme Richard fire

[timjake]

"The Navy has charged a sailor in connection with the massive fire that destroyed the USS Bonhomme Richard warship over four days in 2020 while docked off San Diego, a naval spokesman said Thursday.

The unidentified sailor was a member of the ship's crew and is accused of starting the July 12, 2020 blaze, the Navy said. The charges are based on evidence collected during an investigation, Navy spokesperson Cmdr. Sean Robertson, said in a statement.

"Evidence collected during the investigation is sufficient to direct a preliminary hearing in accordance with due process under the military justice system," Robertson said."

Navy charges sailor in connection with USS Bonhomme Richard fire that destroyed warship | Fox News

"...The charges are against the same sailor who was questioned in August by NCIS Naval Criminal Investigation Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agents, a Navy official told USNI News. The sailor had been held in custody at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., before being released in November, reported The San Diego Union-Tribune earlier this month."

Navy Charges Sailor with Arson, Hazarding a Vessel in 2020 Bonhomme Richard Fire - USNI News

 

[s&wchad]

I hope the allegations aren’t true. I hate to think the fire was intentionally set.

It would take an awfully long time to repay the damages on prison wages!

 

[Greyman50]

Keel Haul the cretin. IIRC , was reported at time of fire it was intentionally set, pretty easy to discover.

 

[AJ]

Charges preferred against seaman apprentice accused of starting USS Bonhomme Richard fire

 

[iouri]

A 3/4 billion $$$ ship had been destroyed by a single man ? Wow, so all our enemies have to do is plant 1-2 men on crucial ships and our Navy will be history ?

 

[riverrat38]

I hope the allegations aren’t true. I hate to think the fire was intentionally set.

It would take an awfully long time to repay the damages on prison wages!

I wonder what the going rate is for making small rocks out of large ones?
About 38,000 years at minimum wage.

73,
Rick

 

[Jon651]

A 3/4 billion $$$ ship had been destroyed by a single man ? Wow, so all our enemies have to do is plant 1-2 men on crucial ships and our Navy will be history ?

Not so much...

The ship was being refitted and modified while at dock, it was wide open and many of the systems were either being upgraded, going through maintenance or disabled. The regular crew were not present (at least not in any significant number) and no regular operational watches were set. Supposedly most of the personnel on board were shipyard workers. This fire was akin to setting alight a large, multi-story steel warehouse with building supplies scattered around, limited or no working detection and suppression system and very few people around to raise the alarm or initiate firefighting while the fire was still small. The ship in this condition versus when it is in active service is an "apples to oranges" comparison.

 

[Nevada Ed]

So what happened to the sprinkler system that is in all ships ?? !!

Hard to beleive that it took off with all the fire fighting equipment that I knew that we had in the old days.
Have things changed ??

 

[iouri]

Thanks for an explanation, Jon651.

 

[jdh]

I wonder what the going rate is for making small rocks out of large ones?
About 38,000 years at minimum wage.

73,
Rick

I retired from the Federal Prison System in 2010. Then it was 11, 17, 28 or 40 cents an hour. Inmates don’t get annual COLAs so I’m betting it is still pretty close to that. A max of half can be taken out per month for fines and assessments. So I’m pretty sure the universe will go dark before he can pay it.

 

[GaryS]

Sounds similar to the shipyard worker who set "small" fire on a USS Miami being refitted at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. He wanted to go home early, so lit a fire. He plead guilty and was sentenced to 17 years in prison plus $400 Million in restitution.

I the restitution was just in case he won the lottery.

The guy in this case will likely end up before a Court Martial. I don't know that he'll get off so likely.

 

[Jon651]

So what happened to the sprinkler system that is in all ships ?? !!

Hard to beleive that it took off with all the fire fighting equipment that I knew that we had in the old days.
Have things changed ??

A ship that is powered down can't run pumps. A crew that's not on board can't man hoses. Apparently it wasn't connected to shore-side water or the fire suppression system was also being worked on. There should have been fire watches (and there probably were), but I don't know how much of the regular crew was still assigned and present for such an extensive refit. With the shortage of personnel for duty on other active vessels, the regular crew was probably quickly scattered to other assignments.

 

[tlawler]

If it was in drydock, all the systems were dry. No fire pump, no flushing water, not even the scuttle butts had water. We had a berthing and chow barge in the dock with us with all facilities, but any fire fighting would have been done with CO2’s until bigger fire fighting gear arrived. Fire awareness was a BIG deal in drydock. We all did our yearly firefighting refresher just before and all hot work had at least two fire watches with extinguishers at the ready.

 

[biku324]

The Navy has been known to blame the lowest-ranking person present. Remember the USS Iowa explosion?

"In response to the new findings, the U.S. Navy, with Sandia's assistance, reopened the investigation. In August 1991, Sandia and the GAO completed their reports, concluding that it was likely that the explosion was caused by an accidental overram of powder bags into the breech of the 16-inch gun. The U.S. Navy, however, disagreed with Sandia's opinion and concluded that the cause of the explosion could not be determined. The U.S. Navy expressed regret (but did not offer an apology) to Hartwig's family and closed its investigation."

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

Blaming the dead is Army policy. The Peers Commission which "investigated" My Lai tried to pin the heaviest blame on five officers who were already KIA.
Makes me wonder what their "evidence" is-was he sneaking a smoke, legal or otherwise?
The Walker Spy Ring was ? 4-5 individuals, look how much damage they did.
All you need is somebody in the right place at the right time.

 

[boykinlp]

"...The charges are against the same sailor who was questioned in August by NCIS Naval Criminal Investigation Service........"

Glad to see Hetty and Gibbs got their man, as usual.
Larry

 

[LoboGunLeather]

Obviously, the 3 or 4 admirals in charge of the refitting programs can't be held to account any more than the dozen or so captains and senior staff members overseeing the operations. Has to be a seaman first class or less, perhaps a very junior petty officer with some very serious personal problems.

Security? Sure, we had plenty of security and all the logs indicate perfect performance to all the accepted standards.

No gold braid will be on the cutting table. No academy graduates will have to stand up and explain. Occam's Razor will not be permitted in the hearing room.