USS Bonhomme Richard's destruction after fire caused by repeated failures, Navy says
Source: CBS News
USS Bonhomme Richard's destruction after fire caused by repeated failures, Navy says
BY DAVID MARTIN, ELEANOR WATSON
UPDATED ON: OCTOBER 20, 2021 / 1:36 PM / CBS NEWS
A Navy investigation into the fire that destroyed the USS Bonhomme Richard concluded that although the July 2020 fire is believed to be arson, "the ship was lost due to an inability to extinguish the fire."
The findings, reviewed by CBS News on Tuesday, found that 36 individuals —including the ship's captain and five admirals — were responsible for the loss of the ship, either by their own actions or by a lack of oversight leading up to the alleged arson.
The investigation also took note of "repeated failures" during the 19-month period the ship was undergoing a major overhaul that "allowed for the accumulation of significant risk and an inadequately prepared crew, which led to an ineffective fire response."
"Overall, this command investigation concluded that the loss of the ship was clearly preventable, and this is unacceptable," Admiral Bill Lescher, vice chief of Naval Operations, said in a call with reporters on Wednesday.
The fire started on a Sunday in July 2020, while the ship was undergoing an overhaul in San Diego. It burned for four days and injured over 60 sailors and civilians before firefighters could put it out.
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Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/uss-bonhomme-richard-destruction-navy-investigation/
