Photos capture the intense fight against the fire that has been burning aboard a US Navy warship for over 24 hours

Ryan PickrellJul 13, 2020, 22:32 IST

Smoke rises from a fire on board the U.S. Navy amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme RichardREUTERS/Bing Guan

The US Navy amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard has been burning for more than 24 hours, and there is the possibility the fire will continue for days.
These photos capture the intense fight to get the fire under control as it tears through the big-deck amphib currently at port in San Diego.

The US Navy amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6) has been burning for a day, the first of what could be a multi-day fight to get the fire under control.

A fire broke out on the USS Bonhomme Richard at around 8:30 am Sunday (local time) at Naval Base San Diego, California.

A fire aboard the US Navy amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

Rear Adm. Philip Sobeck, commander of Expeditionary Strike Group 3, told reporters Sunday evening that while "there was a report of an internal explosion," the Navy is still unclear on the cause of the fire. He insists the ship will sail again.

Firefighters battle a fire aboard the US Navy amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard U.S. Navy photo by Lt. John J. Mike

Rear Adm. Philip Sobeck, commander of Expeditionary Strike Group 3, told reporters Sunday evening that while "there was a report of an internal explosion," the Navy is still unclear on the cause of the fire. He insists the ship will sail again.

When the fire broke out, only 160 of the 1,000 crew members that normally man the big-deck amphib were on board.

Firefighters battle a fire aboard the US Navy amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Christina Ross

The Navy said Monday morning that 57 people, to include Navy sailors and civilians, have been treated for minor injuries, to include heat exhaustion and smoke inhalation. Five people remain hospitalized.

Firefighters battle a fire aboard the US Navy amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Christina Ross

The Navy said Monday morning that 57 people, to include Navy sailors and civilians, have been treated for minor injuries, to include heat exhaustion and smoke inhalation. Five people remain hospitalized.

Navy and local firefighters were on the scene and responding to the fire shortly after the reports came in.

Firefighters battle a fire aboard the US Navy amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Christina Ross

The USS Bonhomme Richard, a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship commissioned in 1998, was in a maintenance availability, one which involved retrofitting the ship to carry the short take-off/vertical landing F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter, at the time of the fire.

Firefighters battle a fire aboard the US Navy amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Jason Kofonow

The USS Bonhomme Richard, a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship commissioned in 1998, was in a maintenance availability, one which involved retrofitting the ship to carry the short take-off/vertical landing F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter, at the time of the fire.

The fight to get the fire under control continued into the evening, as the ship continued to burn. Images from the scene appeared to show the fire burning in the superstructure after tearing through the lower levels of the ship.

Firefighters battle a fire aboard the US Navy amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Austin Haist

The fight to get the fire under control continued into the evening, as the ship continued to burn. Images from the scene appeared to show the fire burning in the superstructure after tearing through the lower levels of the ship.

At 10:30 pm Sunday, helicopters outfitted for firefighting operations from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron Three dumped water on the burning warship.

Firefighters battle a fire aboard the US Navy amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Christina Ross

The ship was still on fire Monday morning. San Diego Fire Chief Colin Stowell said Sunday that it is very possible that the USS Bonhomme Richard could burn for days "down to the waterline."

Firefighters battle a fire aboard the US Navy amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Austin Haist

The ship was still on fire Monday morning. San Diego Fire Chief Colin Stowell said Sunday that it is very possible that the USS Bonhomme Richard could burn for days "down to the waterline."

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Photos capture the intense fight against the fire that has been burning aboard a US Navy warship for over 24 hours

A fire broke out on the USS Bonhomme Richard at around 8:30 am Sunday (local time) at Naval Base San Diego, California.

Rear Adm. Philip Sobeck, commander of Expeditionary Strike Group 3, told reporters Sunday evening that while "there was a report of an internal explosion," the Navy is still unclear on the cause of the fire. He insists the ship will sail again.

When the fire broke out, only 160 of the 1,000 crew members that normally man the big-deck amphib were on board.

The Navy said Monday morning that 57 people, to include Navy sailors and civilians, have been treated for minor injuries, to include heat exhaustion and smoke inhalation. Five people remain hospitalized.

Navy and local firefighters were on the scene and responding to the fire shortly after the reports came in.

The USS Bonhomme Richard, a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship commissioned in 1998, was in a maintenance availability, one which involved retrofitting the ship to carry the short take-off/vertical landing F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter, at the time of the fire.

The fight to get the fire under control continued into the evening, as the ship continued to burn. Images from the scene appeared to show the fire burning in the superstructure after tearing through the lower levels of the ship.

At 10:30 pm Sunday, helicopters outfitted for firefighting operations from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron Three dumped water on the burning warship.

The ship was still on fire Monday morning. San Diego Fire Chief Colin Stowell said Sunday that it is very possible that the USS Bonhomme Richard could burn for days "down to the waterline."