Navy Releases Extensive Bonhomme Richard Fire Report, Major Fires Review
Posted on October 21, 2021 by Seapower Staff
On the morning of July 12, a fire was called away aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) at Naval Base San Diego, while it was moored pier side for a maintenance availability, which began in 2018. Base and shipboard firefighters responded to the fire. U.S. NAVY / Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Austin Haist
WASHINGTON — The Navy released on Oct. 20 two reports related to the fire aboard USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) on July 12, 2020: the results of the U.S. Pacific Fleet Command Investigation and a Major Fires Review commissioned by the vice chief of naval operations (VCNO) that examined all major fires in the Navy over the last 12 years, VCNO public affairs said.
The Navy convened the Pacific Fleet command investigation on USS Bonhomme Richard to specifically examine all causal and contributing factors to the fire that resulted in the total loss of the ship.
There were four categories of causal factors that allowed for the accumulation of significant risk and led to an ineffective fire response: the material condition of the ship, the training and readiness of the ship’s crew, the integration between the ship and supporting shore-based firefighting organizations and the oversight by commanders across multiple organizations. The command investigation also concluded “a lack of familiarity with requirements and procedural noncompliance at multiple levels of command” contributed to the loss of ship.
VCNO Adm. Bill Lescher emphasized the Navy’s commitment to making urgent and necessary changes to correct the deficiencies and related root causes that led to the Bonhomme Richard fire.
https://seapowermagazine.org/navy-releases-extensive-bonhomme-richard-fire-report-major-fires-review/
