"A Navy report has concluded there were sweeping failures by commanders, crew members and others that fueled the July 2020 arson fire that destroyed the USS Bonhomme Richard, calling the massive five-day blaze in San Diego preventable and unacceptable.
While one sailor has been charged with setting the fire, the more than 400-page report, obtained by The Associated Press, lists three dozen officers and sailors whose failings either directly led to the ship's loss or contributed to it. The findings detailed widespread lapses in training, coordination, communication, fire preparedness, equipment maintenance and overall command and control.
"Although the fire was started by an act of arson, the ship was lost due to an inability to extinguish the fire," the report said, concluding that "repeated failures" by an "inadequately prepared crew" delivered "an ineffective fire response." "
36 people were cited for failures that either directly led to or contributed to the loss.
Navy probe reveals failures that fueled arson fire and destroyed USS Bonhomme Richard | Fox News
USS Bonhomme Richard fire spread wildly due to 'repeated failures,' investigation finds
Long Chain of Failures Left Sailors Unprepared to Fight USS Bonhomme Richard Fire, Investigation Finds - USNI News (this article has a very thorough discussion of the event timeline)
Some of the findings:
- The main firefighting foam system wasn't used because it hadn't been maintained properly and the crew didn't know how to use it
- Combustible materials scattered and stored improperly
- Maintenance reports were falsified and 87% of the fire stations on board had equipment problems or had not been inspected
- Crew members didn't ring the bells to alert others of a fire until 10 minutes after it was discovered
While one sailor has been charged with setting the fire, the more than 400-page report, obtained by The Associated Press, lists three dozen officers and sailors whose failings either directly led to the ship's loss or contributed to it. The findings detailed widespread lapses in training, coordination, communication, fire preparedness, equipment maintenance and overall command and control.
"Although the fire was started by an act of arson, the ship was lost due to an inability to extinguish the fire," the report said, concluding that "repeated failures" by an "inadequately prepared crew" delivered "an ineffective fire response." "
36 people were cited for failures that either directly led to or contributed to the loss.
Navy probe reveals failures that fueled arson fire and destroyed USS Bonhomme Richard | Fox News
USS Bonhomme Richard fire spread wildly due to 'repeated failures,' investigation finds
Long Chain of Failures Left Sailors Unprepared to Fight USS Bonhomme Richard Fire, Investigation Finds - USNI News (this article has a very thorough discussion of the event timeline)
Some of the findings:
- The main firefighting foam system wasn't used because it hadn't been maintained properly and the crew didn't know how to use it
- Combustible materials scattered and stored improperly
- Maintenance reports were falsified and 87% of the fire stations on board had equipment problems or had not been inspected
- Crew members didn't ring the bells to alert others of a fire until 10 minutes after it was discovered
