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Navy Charges Sailor with Arson, Hazarding a Vessel in 2020 Bonhomme Richard Fire
July 29, 2021 10:01 PM
Federal firefighters assess damage in the hangar bay aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6) on July 15, 2020. US Navy Photo
This post has been updated with additional details of the sailor accused of starting the fire aboard the former Bonhomme Richard (LHA-6).
The Navy has filed charges against a sailor for allegedly deliberately starting a fire last year that quickly spread and consumed much of the interior of amphibious assault ship USS
Sailor Charged With Setting USS Bonhomme Richard Fire
Preliminary hearing will lead to recommendation about a court martial.
An unnamed sailor has been charged with setting the fire aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard last July that burned for days and led to the decommissioning of the ship, the Navy said Thursday.
A criminal investigation into the blaze revealed enough evidence to bring charges against the sailor, who was a member of the ship’s crew at the time of the fire, according to a U.S. 3rd Fleet statement.
“Evidence collected during the investigation is sufficient to direct a preliminary hearing in accordance with due process under the military justice system,” Cmdr. Sean Robertson, a spokesman for U.S. 3rd Fleet, said in the statement.
Navy charges sailor in connection with 2020 fire on USS Bonhomme Richard kaok.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from kaok.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Navy Charges Sailor with Setting Fire that Destroyed USS Bonhomme Richard
In this July 12, 2020, file photo, smoke rises from the USS Bonhomme Richard in San Diego after an explosion and fire on board the ship at Naval Base San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
29 Jul 2021 Associated Press | By Julie Watson
SAN DIEGO The U.S. Navy said Thursday that it s charged a sailor with starting a fire last year that destroyed a warship docked off San Diego.
The USS Bonhomme Richard burned for more than four days and was the Navy’s worst U.S. warship fire outside of combat in recent memory. The amphibious assault ship was left with extensive structural, electrical and mechanical damage and was later scrapped, costing the Navy billions of dollars.
Navy Sailor charged for fire started on USS Bonhomme Richard, destroying warship
The charges were brought in response to evidence found during the criminal investigation into the July 2020 fire that destroyed the ship. Author: CBS News 8 Team Published: 6:09 PM EDT July 29, 2021 Updated: 6:21 PM EDT July 29, 2021
SAN DIEGO The U.S. Navy said Thursday that charges have been filed against a Navy Sailor who is accused of starting the July 2020 fire that destroyed the warship while it was docked in San Diego.
According to Cmdr. Sean Robertson, U.S. 3rd Fleet spokesperson, the evidence collected during the investigation is sufficient to direct a preliminary hearing for the sailer who was a member of Bonhomme Richard’s crew at the time of the fire.