UPDATE 3- 1930 PT

INCIDENT COMMAND

Reports of an explosion have occurred on the USS Bohomme Richard (LHD-6), a 40,000 ton Wasp class U.S. Navy amphibious assault ship at the San Diego Naval Base/port.

Photo Credit:  Port of San Diego Harbor Police

Fire broke out from an unknown cause at 0830 hours PT.  Several explosions, heavy flames and smoke occurred during the incident where the ship was docked at the pier at the San Diego Naval Base.

A 3rd alarm was called just before 1000 hours PT.

COMMAND

Fire Command was in Unified Command with Federal Fire and San Diego Fire Department (mutual aid unit).

STATUS

All-in-all, 11 injuries were reported and thankfully no loss of life was reported. The ship has suffered serious damage.

RESOURCES

Resources assisted at the fire today included the US Navy, Federal Fire, San Diego Fire and the Port of San Diego Harbor Police.

THROUGH THE EYES OF SOCIAL MEDIA

Smoke could be seen all across the area, as well as laying down in the valley which prompted many calls to 9-1-1.  Callers reported odor and smoke calls. Though those calls would turn out from smoke impacting areas, fire calls for service were still answered. – Media

Confirmation by the Navy that there was no aircraft onboard at the time of fire. – Media

The [ship] was docked for scheduled maintenance between deployments. Sailors assigned to it were staying in Navy or private housing on shore were not on board when the fire started. – Media

ABOUT THE USS BONHOMME RICHARD (LHD-6)

This is a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship and the third ship of the US Navy to bear the name. It was named in the honor of John Paul Jones’ famous frigate which he had had named in French “Good Man Richard”.

It is used as a landing helicopter dock and amphibious assault ship.

It is made 843 feet long, has a beam of 104 feet, two boilers, two geared steam turbines, two shafts and 70,000 shp.  It can travel up to 22 knots or 25 miles-per-hour.  Its range consists of 9,500 nautical miles or 10,900 miles at 21 miles-per-hour.

The ship can carry 1,687 troops plus an 84 184 surge Marine Detachment.

PHOTO CREDITS 

Photos found in this post are credited to the Port of San Diego Harbor Police, unless otherwise noted.

(c) 2020 NW Fire Blog – Updated 7/12/2020 1930 PT

UPDATE 2- 1700 PT

INCIDENT COMMAND

Reports of an explosion have occurred on the USS Bohomme Richard (LHD-6), a 40,000 ton Wasp class U.S. Navy amphibious assault ship at the San Diego Naval Base/port.

The fire occurred at 0830 hours PT with several explosions, heavy flames and smoke and several injuries to sailors and firefighters.

This ship can carry up to 1700+ personnel and/or 20 F-35B stealth fighters at any given time.

COMMAND

Unified Command with Federal Fire and San Diego Fire Department (mutual aid unit).

INCIDENT TIMELINE

0830 PT | Fire ignites on the naval ship, USS Bonomme Richard (LHD6).

0900 PT | SDFS personnel were requested by Federal Fire.

0909 PT | A second alarm is struck.

0951 PT | Federal Fire checks out sailors in the Medical Group.

1044 PT | SDFD is in Unified Command with Federal Fire.

1051 PT | A third alarm is struck by the Federal Fire agency, which prompts the response of San Diego Fire Department personnel and equipment.

1055 PT | Command requests PAR accountability of all firefighters and personnel.

1100 PT | An explosion is reported just before 1100.

1119 PT | All members accounted for.

1124 PT | Abandon the building tone is broadcasted to get all firefighters off the ship immediately. Change in Fire Operations.  Getting ready to go defensive.

Photo Credit | SDFD

1128 PT | Local, base and shipboard fire fighting teams are responding to a fire aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD6) located on the Naval Base SanDiego.

1130 PT | Fire conditions are growing worse. Command pulling all firefighters out of the ship and going defensive. Requesting all units to evacuate the ship immediately and give PAR. Command Post is where the American Flag is located.

1131 PT | Command states foam/sprinkler system to go online/engage in 30 minutes.

1138 PT | Command needs PAR of all units. Federal Fire/SDFD setting up REHAB.  Another explosion reported, very chaotic in the background on scanner feed. No injuries reported. Firefighters removing all of their gear off the pier.

1142 PT | 1 Truck 11 Firefighter injured. Reporting to the Medical Group for assessment. Evacuations in effect for clearing the pier.

1144 PT | Command asking Dispatch for 5 additional ALS ambulances to respond to Base.

1147 PT | Units assigned to the fire are T11, LA1, LA40, T44, T1, E17, E4, T12, E1, E201, E27, E7, E11, USAR2, E51, E20, E26, E12, E19, E2, E3, B1, B6, SC1, B3, B2, AM414, AM416, AM418, AM495, AM417, B33, B53, B57, BLS5, CHAP6, CPTR2, CRDT36 CVB51, Dep6, FB11, FB12, Fe110, Fe111, Fe12, Fe16, Fe161, Fe18, Fe19, FEDLA110, FEDM92, Fm28, FTR17, LOGS2, LOGS4, M1, M10, M12, M39, M4, M43, M6, MC1, MD1, MS71, MS84, NCE34, NCT34, OS10, SOP3, USAR53

1149 PT | Command orders all personnel to report to their Group Supervisor. Command is iniating PAR.

1153 PT | Currently, 3 ALS/BLS units are loading up their patients. 5 more ambulances are inbound. Will be used as needed.

1159 PT | Medical group has E20 as Transport Supe and E27 as Triage Supe. 10 patients are either currently or have been transported to hospitals. Sufficient number of ambulances for now.

1200 PT | Heavy smoke with no water on the fire due to the previous large explosion. Fire is moving towards the bow and forward, coming out of the hatches.

1201 PT | Setting up foam flowing operations. Unit only has 100 gallons of foam per vessel. May need Logistics to help with coordination.

1204 PT | Heavy smoke billowing out. Foaming operations to commence. Members will decide if hull or in openings to spray the foam into.

1205 PT | All members told to exit the pier with urgency and pull their gear off the dock.

1210 PT | All SDFD members are accounted. PAR complete.

1220 PT | FD 911 calls are starting to flood in of smoke check and ordors in surrounding areas and where the smoke is beginning to impact communities.  Winds are inceasing and smoke is pouring out of open hatches from the ship.

1221 PT | Smoke is seen billowing out of hatches on the starboard side. Conditions are worsening and concerns for those working downwind are duly noted.

1225 PT | Some firefighters remained on the pier after the initial abandon the building tones were broadcasted and Command is urgently telling members to exit the pier and remove their equipment. PAR was conducted and received for the remaining firefighting team as completed. All members present.

1236 PT | There is exposure, which is another ship but fire has not reached it. A mass number of sailors are seen running away from the ship as fire has reached its fuel tanks. SDFD asks if there should be additional evacuations. Unknown the answer since another feed walked on theirs on the scanner feed.

1239 PT | Copter 2 is down being refueled. Copter 3 is en route to the fire.

1240 PT | Copter 2 is down for refueling but 3 is on his way back to the fire.

1253 PT | REHAB tasked with coordination of water and food for Naval personnel.

1257 PT | 11 sailors have been transported to the hospital for minor injuries. The entire crew is off the ship and all are accounted for.

1300 PT | Commands notes lots of equipment on the pier now but not sending anyone to go and get it. FD B1 to start releasing units. Creating a list for Logistics for refill of supplies for units before going back into service.

1301 PT | At 1300 PT, The USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) shifted berths to a pier further away from the fire.

1316 PT | The fire occurred at approximately 0830 PT. 160 sailors were aboard at the time. The ship was going through some maintenance availablity. The ship usually has 1,000 crew members. 18 sailors have been transferred to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

1330 PT | The USS Russell (DDG 59) moves approximately 30 minutes later to a more safe and secure location.

1336 PT | The ship was moored pier side at Naval Base San Diego.

1405 PT | A 2nd Firefighter to the hospital for assessment after failing the REHAB evaluation.

1430 PT | 17 sailors and 4 civilians are being treated for non-threatening injuries at a local hospital. All inport ships have been contacted and directed to provide fire parties to possibly assist with firefighting efforts.

1609 PT | Navy Reg SW Tugs are continuously battling the fire from the bay.  The cause of the fire is still unknown and is under investigation.  Federal Fire is rotating out crews onboard the ship with the Navy firefighting crews from the waterfront to fight the fire in order to find the origin of the fire & put it out.

1610 PT | Federal Fire San Diego is lead firefighting agency for Naval Base San Diego. 2 Firefighting teams are aboard the ship.

UPDATES

More updates will be provided as information is received.

(c) 2020 NW Fire Blog – Updated 7/12/2020 Updated at 1745 PT

UPDATE 1 – 1400 PT

Photo Credit | San Diego FD

INCIDENT SUMMARY

Reports of an explosion have occurred on the USS Bohomme Richard (LHD-6), a 40,000 ton Wasp class U.S. Navy amphibious assault ship at the San Diego Naval Base/port.

This ship can carrying up to 1700+ personnel and/or 20 F-35B stealth fighters.

Incident is in Unified Command with Federal Fire, San Diego FD and the US Navy.

Photo Credit | San Diego FD

FIRE CONDITIONS 

Firefighters immediately found the active fire burning and where it was located but conditions would worsen, prompting Command to pull all firefighters from the ship and off the pier.  A PAR was immediately ordered by Command and all have been accounted for.

Fire has been burning throughout the ship where it was moving up towards the bow and displaying ugly heavy smoke out of its hatches.

Engine 1 crew reported a massive amount of Navy sailors fleeing from the ship and running past the firefighters saying that the fire has reached their ship’s fuel tanks.  This happened after a large plume of black smoke leaked out of the naval vessel.

There is also an exposure nearby which is another ship but it has been deemed safe and no fire has reached it.

Most units have been released from the incident with them going back into service.

Photo Credit | San Diego FD

MEDICAL GROUP

One firefighter from Truck 11 was reported injured and was being assessed by the Medical Group. There were reports of 10 patients that were either transported or will be transported. Their conditions were unknown at the time of this reporting.

Five more ALS ambulances were requested in addition to the 3 they already had on-scene.

The Navy reported they had 11 Sailors were transported to the hospital for minor injuries. The entire crew is off the ship and all accounted for.

Photo Credit | San Diego FD

RESOURCES

Resources Dispatched:  T11, LA1, LA40, T44, T1, E17, E4, T12, E1, E201, E27, E7, E11, USAR2, E51, E20, E26, E12, E19, E2, E3, B1, B6, SC1, B3, B2, AM414, AM416, AM418, AM417, B33, B53, B57, BLS5, CHAP6, CPTR2, CRDT36, CVB51, FEDLA110, Fm28, LOGS2, LOGS4, M1, M10, M12, M39, M4, M43, M6, MC1, MD1, MS71, MS84, NCE34, NCT34, OS10, SOP3, USAR53.

INCIDENT TIMELINE

The ship in pre-fire days.  Photo Credit | Naval Base San Diego

1239 PT | Copter 2 is down being refueled. Copter 3 is en route to the fire.

1236 PT | Engine 1 reports to Command: A massive number of Navy sailors run past San Diego engine company after the smoke from the original ship fire turns black.  The sailors say that the fire has reached their fuel tanks.  Engine company asks if more evacuations are in effect.   Command asks if this is the exposure ship or the original Ship. It is determined to be the oringial ship.

1230 PT | Copter 2 leaving fire ground to refuel at nearby airport.

1224 PT | Some firefighters were still on the pier after Command requested all of them to urgently evacuate and pull all of their firefighter gear.  They were told to give Command PAR after they were off the pier.  Shortly after, they gave a PAR with no injuries.

1218 PT | Winds increasing. Smoke coming out of open hatches on starboard sides.

1214 PT | Lots of smoke from the ship fire is now laying down in the Valley. Smoke check calls are starting to flow into 9-1-1 Dispatch.

1208 PT | PAR completed, all San Diego members are accounted for.

1204 PT | Heavy smoke starting to billowing out. Foaming operations to commence. Members will decide what locations to put foam into the ship; either hull or inside openings.

1201 PT | Command requesting foam flowing operations. Unit states only has 100-gallons of foam per vessel. May need Logistics to help with refilling.

1159 PT | Command conducting PAR.   Medical Group reports E20 is Transport Sup and E27 is the Triage Sup. 10 patients are currently either being transported or have been transported. Sufficient number of ambulances are good for now.

1155 PT | Command conducted PAR of units. Units have all been accounted for.

1153 PT | 3 ALS/BLS are currently loading up patients.. Command states 5 more are inbound. They will report to Base. Will be used as needed.

1149 PT | Medical Group receives E27 as their newest unit to group.

1143 PT | Command requests 5 additional ALS ambulances.

1142 PT | 1 Truck 11 Firefighter injured. Heading to medical Group for medical eval.  Operations reportings all firefighters being moved to the end of the pier.  A large explosion has occurred on the ship.  2 more ALS units requested. Evacuations were being conducted with clearing the piers.

1138 PT | An explosion was reporting. All Firefighters were in the middle of removing all of their gear from the pier. No injuries were reporting. Command was requesting PAR of all members.

1131 PT | Foam / sprinkler system onboard ship to come online in 30 minutes.

1130 PT | Fire conditions growing worse. Puling firefighters out of the ship. Going defensive operations. Requesting all units to evacuate the ship and give PAR. Command Post is where the American Flag is located.

“Please say a little prayer for these men and women in the military.” – Ed.

Photo Credit | Naval Base San Diego

1124 PT | Fire conditions growing worse, ready to go defensive. Pulling all firefighters out. Abandon the building tone to be sounded to get people out as soon as possible.

1123 PT | The beginning of our coverage begins. Incident summary is of a 3-alarm navy ship, USS Bohomme Richard, an amphibious assault ship at the San Diego Naval Base has broken out. An explosion and fire is reported onboard just before 1100 hours PT.

1050 PT | Federal Fire San Diego Firefighters treat several Navy sailors.

Photo Credit | San Diego FD

1049 PT | The Naval Base San Diego issues an alert that they are responding to a fire onboard the USS Bonhomme Richard. All personnel are told to stay clear of the West side of the Base.

0951 PT | 3rd Alarm struck.

0909 PT | 2nd Alarm struck.

UPDATES

This is our first and final update unless something significantly changes.

Updates will then be provided every hour until the incident has been demobed.

(c) 2020 NW Fire Blog – Updated 7/12/2020 1300 PT