Explosion On Navy Ship

[oldpop2000]

There was an explosion on the Bon Homme Richard moored at the US Naval Station, in San Diego. Here is the report.


www.cnn.com/2020/07/12/us/ship-explosion-san-diego-naval-base/index.html

For those of you unfamiliar with the US Naval Station in San Diego, we call it the 32nd street Naval Station. It is on the other side of the Coronado Bay Bridge and you can see off to the left or right depending which direction you are heading. The explosion occurred about 0900 hrs. and has been burning ever since then. 11 Sailors have been taken to the hospital with minor injuries and the foam has been released in the hangar to quell the fire. It will take days to really get this fire controlled so damage is going to be extensive. On weekends there are not more than about 200 sailors on board the ship so that is a good thing. They were all removed before the foam was released from the ceiling.

[oldpop2000]

The ship is still burning. The new report is 17 sailors were injured and 4 civilians. To familiarize you with this LHD-6, www.cnn.com/2020/07/12/us/ship-explosion-san-diego-naval-base/index.html.

The fire apparently started in the well deck in the stern where the LCAC's exit the ship. www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=4200&tid=1500&ct=4

The real problem is the smoke and fumes from the explosion and fire. These could have a detrimental effect on the neighborhoods in the path of that smoke. The smoke was moving SE over National City.

[oldpop2000]

The fire has bee burning for 24 hrs. Firefighting Helicopters from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron Three have been called in to help. The injury count is up to 23 sailors and 34 civilians. People living in National City have been told to stay in doors to prevent problems with the smoke. Ramona is now seeing and smelling the smoke. Ramona is about 20 miles from our house but we haven't smelled or seen anything.

timesofsandiego.com/military/2020/07/13/navy-calls-in-firefighting-helicopters-as-bonhomme-richard-continues-to-burn/

[oldpop2000]

The fire is still raging, almost 1000 degrees in some areas. The bow is really taking it and it is a question as to whether the USN can salvage and rebuild the ship or just mothball it. It is too early to tell. The real concern is the fuel two levels down.

[oldpop2000]

The fire is raging now at both ends. There is speculation that the ship will not be salvageable and it might have been arson.

[oldpop2000]

Interesting article on the fire on the Bon Homme Richard and its implications. warontherocks.com/2020/07/more-than-just-a-fire-the-implications-of-the-bonhomme-richard-catastrophe/

[oldpop2000]

Apparently the fire is out. The Navy believes the ship is salvageable but the jury is still out on that. This was the ninth fire on ships in routine maintenance in port in ten years. That is a bit much, to me.