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Accidents

USS Bonhomme Richard (2020)

On 12 July 2020, USS Bonhomme Richard was in week 88 of a Chief of Naval Operations maintenance availability at Naval Base San Diego when fire broke out in the lower vehicle storage compartment. The fire burned for five days, spread through 11 of the ship's 14 decks and reached temperatures above 1,400°F. Damage exceeded USD 3 billion, and the Navy later decided to decommission the amphibious assault ship. The Major Fires Review examined Bonhomme Richard alongside 14 other major fire or fire-safety events over a 12-year period. The review found recurring weaknesses during maintenance periods, when installed systems, ship configuration, manning and responsibilities were changing. It noted that COVID-19 mitigation measures further dispersed the crew, while several key leaders rotated during the extended availability. Replacements had not received the relevant industrial fire-safety training and were not sufficiently familiar with their responsibilities. The review identified broader problems involving compliance with fire-safety requirements, combustible-material control, layered protection, in-port training, watchstanding and oversight. It concluded that compliance with the fire-safety requirements already in force would have prevented or reduced the severity of the major maintenance-period fires examined. The review was a systemic fleet analysis, not the completed safety investigation for Bonhomme Richard. It stated that the ship's safety investigation had been paused while a law-enforcement investigation took precedence. The report therefore does not establish the ignition source, support arson as a confirmed cause, or provide casualty counts.

Classification

FieldValue
Incident TypeFire
SeverityHigh
Investigation BodyCommander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command / Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet

Vessel Details

FieldValue
Vessel NameUSS Bonhomme Richard
Vessel NamesUSS Bonhomme Richard
Vessel TypeNaval / Military
Flag StateUnited States [US]
IMO Number
Gross Tonnage
LOA (m)

Incident Details

FieldValue
Date2020-07-12
RegionUnited States
LocationNaval Base San Diego, California, United States
Coordinates32.6940, -117.1400
Fatalities
Injuries
Missing
Direct Damage
Economic DamageMore than USD 3 billion

Key facts

  • The fire began in the lower vehicle storage compartment while the ship was in week 88 of a major maintenance availability.
  • It burned for five days, spread to 11 of 14 decks and reached temperatures above 1,400°F.
  • The Major Fires Review records damage exceeding USD 3 billion and the Navy later decided to decommission the ship.
  • The review examined Bonhomme Richard as part of a study of 15 major fire or fire-safety events over 12 years.
  • The review did not have a completed Bonhomme Richard safety investigation report and did not establish the ignition source.

Narrative

On 12 July 2020, USS Bonhomme Richard was in week 88 of a Chief of Naval Operations maintenance availability at Naval Base San Diego when fire broke out in the lower vehicle storage compartment. The fire burned for five days, spread through 11 of the ship's 14 decks and reached temperatures above 1,400°F. Damage exceeded USD 3 billion, and the Navy later decided to decommission the amphibious assault ship. The Major Fires Review examined Bonhomme Richard alongside 14 other major fire or fire-safety events over a 12-year period. The review found recurring weaknesses during maintenance periods, when installed systems, ship configuration, manning and responsibilities were changing. It noted that COVID-19 mitigation measures further dispersed the crew, while several key leaders rotated during the extended availability. Replacements had not received the relevant industrial fire-safety training and were not sufficiently familiar with their responsibilities. The review identified broader problems involving compliance with fire-safety requirements, combustible-material control, layered protection, in-port training, watchstanding and oversight. It concluded that compliance with the fire-safety requirements already in force would have prevented or reduced the severity of the major maintenance-period fires examined. The review was a systemic fleet analysis, not the completed safety investigation for Bonhomme Richard. It stated that the ship's safety investigation had been paused while a law-enforcement investigation took precedence. The report therefore does not establish the ignition source, support arson as a confirmed cause, or provide casualty counts.

Sequence of events

Date/timeEvent
2020-07-12Fire broke out in the lower vehicle storage compartment during the maintenance availability.
Five-day periodThe fire spread to 11 of the ship's 14 decks and reached temperatures above 1,400°F.
Following the fireDamage exceeded USD 3 billion and the Navy decided to decommission USS Bonhomme Richard.

Contributing factors

FactorEvidence statusDescription
Extended maintenance transitionConfirmed findingThe review found elevated fire risk during maintenance because systems, configurations, manning and responsibilities were changing.
Leadership turnover and training gapsConfirmed findingKey leaders rotated during the availability, and replacements lacked relevant industrial fire-safety training and familiarity.
Crew dispersal during COVID-19 mitigationReportedThe review stated that social-distancing measures further disaggregated the crew.
Weak layered fire protectionConfirmed findingThe review identified recurring gaps in prevention, detection and response protections across the events examined.
In-port preparedness and oversightConfirmed findingThe review found that training, watchstanding and oversight left duty sections less prepared for major fires in port.

Investigation

The Commanders of U.S. Fleet Forces Command and U.S. Pacific Fleet directed the Major Fires Review with participation from Navy safety and engineering organizations. The review examined 15 major fire or fire-safety events and made systemic findings concerning fire prevention, detection, response, oversight and learning. It was not the completed casualty safety investigation for Bonhomme Richard, and it did not determine the ignition source or establish casualty counts.

References

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