USS Bonhomme Richard Aerial Firefighting Response

USS Bonhomme Richard

Aerial Firefighters

Aid Response by Ryan Mason

The Navy’s USS Bonhomme Richard was well alight as aerial is safe. We still have an active fire, which we combat both firefighters were called in to help extinguish the blaze aboard within and outside the ship from multiple access points. HSC 3 the amphibious assault ship docked in San Diego. The vessel helicopters have conducted more than 1,000 helicopter water had recently completed a retrofit that would see the ship able bucket drops, which is cooling the superstructure and flight deck to accommodate the Navy’s fleet’s latest aircraft, the F-35. The enabling fire crews to get on board internally to fight the fire. Navy reported that aerial firefighting efforts conducted by Tugs are also provide firefighting support from the waterline. MH-60G helicopters equipped with Bambi Buckets reached a staggering 1,500 drops since firefighting operations began. It is I’m proud of the toughness of the Sailors and Federal Firefighters believed that an explosion triggered a fire that continued to burn for making this significant progress possible. At this time, there for four days below decks onboard USS Bonhomme Richard are 61 personnel, 38 U.S. Navy Sailors and 23 civilians, have that the Navy states after investigations began, has damaged been treated for minor injuries, including heat exhaustion and 11 of the 14 decks on the ship. The fire injured 63 personnel, smoke inhalation. Currently, there are no personnel hospitalized. 40 Sailors, and 23 civilians that have been treated for minor Going forward, the Navy will do a thorough investigation of the injuries, including heat exhaustion and smoke inhalation. incident to include assessing the cause of the fire and damage Operations from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 3 fire and keeping people safe. I’d like to also thank our partners continued throughout the four days it took to extinguish the from state and county as well as the Coast Guard for monitoring flames to aid the cooling of the superstructure and flight deck of the potential impacts to the environment.” Said Rear Admiral the ship, which enabled fire crews to get on board to fight the Philip Sobeck, Expeditionary Strike Group Three commander, in fire internally. Pictures released by the Navy taken on board the a press conference July 14th, 2020 detailing the Navy response helicopters fighting the fire from above show substantial damage to the incident. to the ship’s upper deck. Several large holes in the deck now to the ship, but right now, our focus remains on putting out the expose the deck below, which currently offers crews the aircraft’s Although the incident is still under investigation, there have ability to penetrate below decks with water drops. been several media outlets reporting that sources state that the investigation is now pursuing leads that may indicate arson as “There is no threat to the fuel tanks, which is well-below any the potential cause, with one outlet saying that a sailor who has active fires or heat sources. The ship is stable, and the structure not been identified has been interviewed in relation to the fire.

Left: The USS Bonhomme Richard has a Bambi Bucket load dropped on its deck during firefighting operations by a UH-60G

Right above: The view from on board one of the Navy UH-60 helicopters fighting the fire showing the ship being attacked from land and air to extinguish the flames that burned for four days.

Right Middle: Aerial firefighting efforts continued around the clock and totalled over 1500 drops over 4 days.

Right Below: A civilian contractor outside the smouldering USS Bonhomme Richard during the firefighting effort.