The U.S. Navy announced on Thursday that it has charged a service member in connection with a massive fire that broke out in July 2020 aboard a warship at the San Diego Naval Base in California, a disaster that resulted in injuries to approximately 20 people and led to the complete destruction of the vessel. Fleet spokesman Commander Sean Robertson stated that the sailor, who was part of the crew of the amphibious assault ship "USS Bonhomme Richard," is "accused of starting the fire."
The statement did not disclose the name of the accused or the motive behind the act, only noting that under military law, the sailor was informed of the charge on Thursday. Commander Robertson highlighted that the Third Fleet Commander, Vice Admiral Steve Koehler, is seeking to prosecute this sailor and has appointed an independent military judge to question him in a preliminary hearing to decide whether formal charges should be filed. He added that "the evidence gathered during the investigation is sufficient to hold a preliminary hearing under military court law."
The warship was docked at its home port, the San Diego Naval Base, for maintenance when a massive fire erupted onboard on July 12, 2020. At the time, approximately 160 sailors were aboard the ship. The fire resulted in injuries to 17 sailors and four civilians, who sustained minor injuries requiring hospitalization, according to the Navy. Several firefighters also suffered burns and respiratory issues from inhaling toxic smoke. The ship burned for four days before firefighting teams were able to extinguish the flames. Initially, the U.S. Navy indicated it intended to repair the vessel, but the damage was so extensive that it decided to dispose of it early in the year.
