Wednesday, July 15, 2020

Battle To Save The USS Bonhomme Richard Enters Its Fourth Day



Daily Mail: Battle to save USS Bonhomme Richard enters fourth day: Hundreds of sailors continue to fight 'major fire' at the stern and bow of the 844-foot warship but officials say flames have moved away from its fuel tank easing fears of an explosion

* A fire raging aboard the docked USS Bonhomme Richard has moved away from the warship's fuel tanks, easing fears that it may explode
* Efforts to control the blaze inside the 844-foot Navy ship continued for a fourth consecutive day Wednesday
* Officials have voiced optimism the inferno could finally be extinguished later today
* However, Rear Admiral Adam Sobeck warned there is still a 'major fire' inside the ship being fought by hundreds of sailors near the bow and stern
* Fuel was stored below the waterline and the risk of it spilling or exploding was now 'very low,' he said
* Navy officials were able to inspect four main engineering rooms and found no major damage, and the external structure of the ship appears to be safe
* However, the Admiral added it was too early to determine whether the amphibious assault ship can be repaired and later return to duty

A fire raging aboard the docked USS Bonhomme Richard has moved away from the warship's fuel tanks, easing fears that it may explode or spill up to a million gallons of fuel into the San Diego harbor.

Efforts to control the blaze inside the 844-foot Navy ship continued for a fourth consecutive day Wednesday, with officials voicing optimism the inferno could finally be extinguished later today.

However Rear Adm. Philip Sobeck, commander of the strike group that includes the Bonhomme Richard as its flagship, warned there was still 'a major fire inside' being fought by hundreds of sailors near the ship's bow and stern.

Fuel was stored below the waterline and the risk of it spilling or exploding was now 'very low,' Sobeck said, although the U.S. Coast Guard was standing by in order to boom off any spill.

Navy officials were able to inspect four main engineering rooms and found no major damage, and the external structure of the ship appears to be safe, Sobeck said.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: Even though the fire is still raging, the US Navy is still confident that the ship can be saved .... US Navy says it is 'too early to tell' if the badly burnt warship that has been on fire for days can be saved (Business Insider). More here .... Too Soon to Tell if Bonhomme Richard Can Be Saved After Fire, Navy Says (Military.com).

More News On The Fire Aboard The USS Bonhomme Richard

Crews battle Bonhomme Richard blaze for a fourth day -- Navy Times
Crews make progress against still burning fire on USS Bonhomme Richard -- FOX 5
Fire aboard San Diego-based Navy ship moves away from fuel tanks, easing threat of explosion -- KTLA 5
Crews battle USS Bonhomme Richard fire for fourth day -- ABC 10
Crews make progress against still burning fire aboard USS Bonhomme Richard for 4th day -- CBS 8
Helicopter water drops help fight fire on still-burning USS Bonhomme Richard -- UPI
Navy reports progress fighting fire aboard Bonhomme Richard -- Navy Times
Fire on USS Bonhomme Richard still burning FOUR DAYS after blaze started (VIDEO) -- RT

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