A THREE-ALARM fire erupted on Sunday aboard a US warship docked at Naval Base San Diego, prompting an evacuation of the vessel and sending about 21 sailors to the hospital with minor injuries, Navy and local fire officials said.
The San Diego Fire-Rescue Department reported an explosion in conjunction with the blaze, which struck at about 8:30 a.m. local time aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard, an amphibious assault vessel.
Aerial video footage from the scene showed much of the 844-foot (257 meter) warship engulfed in thick smoke, as firefighting boats in the harbor aimed streams of water at the burning vessel.
Naval Surface Forces wrote on Twitter on Sunday afternoon, “The entire crew is off the ship and all are accounted.”
About 160 sailors were aboard when the fire was first reported. San Diego television station KGTV, an ABC News affiliate, reported the ship was undergoing routine maintenance at the time and normally carries a crew of roughly 1,000. (Reuters)
