At least 18 sailors are injured after explosion and 'very serious' fire breaks out during routine maintenance aboard USS Bonhomme Richard at Naval Base San Diego
- An explosion and three-alarm fire broke out on the USS Bonhomme Richard naval ship around 8.51am at Naval Base San Diego on Sunday
- At least 18 sailors were taken to the hospital for minor injuries suffered in blaze - about 200 sailors and officers were on board the 840-foot ship Sunday morning
- The vessel was undergoing routine maintenance at the time of the fire
- By 12.30pm PST the ship was evacuated and everyone had been accounted for
At least 18 sailors were hospitalized with minor injuries Sunday following a massive fire and explosion on board a Navy ship at Naval Base San Diego, that sent billowing plumes of smoke and ash into the sky.
Fire and rescue crews are on the scene responding to the three-alarm fire on the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) after the blaze broke out around 8.51am, the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department said.
About 200 sailors and officers were on board the 840-foot ship Sunday morning. San Diego is the ship’s homeport.
The vessel was undergoing routine maintenance at the time of the fire.
Fire crews battle flames on USS Bonhomme Richard in San Diego
A massive fire and explosion on board a Navy ship at Naval Base San Diego has injured several sailors and sent billowing plumes of smoke and ash into the sky
This close up show shows how smoke enveloped the 840-foot ship Sunday morning. There were 200 sailors and officers on board at the time
The vessel was undergoing routine maintenance at the time of the fire. Naval Base San Diego is the ship's home port. It's still not clear what sparked the blaze
By 12.30pm PST the entire crew was cleared off the ship and accounted for and 18 people were sent to the hospital with minor injuries
An explosion occurred after the blaze erupted and the ship was evacuated.
Huge clouds of smoke rose from the center of the ship but it's not clear where the fire and explosion started. Locals at the scene reported a toxic smell rising from the fire.
It is unclear what sparked the fire.
At least one person was treated for smoke inhalation. At least one injury was due to the explosion, the San Diego Fire Department said.
The sailors assigned to the ship were staying in Navy or private housing on shore and were not on board when the blaze broke out.
When flames first erupted, a 'duty section' of sailors trained to fight fires was on board and responded to the threat.
The entire crew is off the ship and all have been accounted for, according to a tweet from the Naval Surface Forces, US Pacific Fleet, sent out around 12.30pm PST.
'Everyone is off the ship and everyone is accounted for,' Brian O'Rourke, a Navy spokesman said as per CBS8.
The fire broke out around 8.51am on Sunday and San Diego Fire Rescue rushed to the scene
Firefighter pictured erecting a crane to battle the blaze Sunday morning
All SDFD personnel has been accounted for as of 11.19am, according to San Diego Fire authorities. No firefighters have been injured so far
A view of the smoking naval ship above. It's unclear what sparked the fire and explosion
San Diego fire crew responds to USS Bonhomme Richard fire
The USS Bonhomme Richard is an assault-style ship that's outfitted to carry landing craft and transfer equipment, troops and landing boats.
The ship's last deployment was in 2018.
Firefighters from San Diego along with the unified command Federal Fire are battling the flames.
The Naval Surface Forces of the US Pacific Fleet added that local, base and shipboard firefighters are responding to the blaze.
All SDFD personnel has been accounted for as of 11.19am, according to San Diego Fire authorities. No firefighters have been injured so far.
Massive clouds of smoke enveloped the base in Sunday morning's fire
The USS Bonhomme Richard is an assault-style ship that's outfitted to carry landing craft and transfer equipment, troops and landing boats. The ship's last deployment was in 2018
San Diego Fire-Rescue said 150 firefighters were sent out to quell the inferno.
Shocking video as emerged showing the moment an explosion went off on the Naval ship.
The keel for the Bonhomme Richard was laid down in 1995 and she was delivered to the Navy in 1998.
The ship has the capacity to deploy and land helicopters, smaller boats and amphibious vehicles.
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