USS New Orleans Catches Fire Off Okinawa
The USS New Orleans, a U.S. Navy warship, experienced a fire while docked off the coast of Okinawa, Japan, on Wednesday. Two sailors sustained minor injuries, according to officials.
The blaze lasted approximately 12 hours at the White Beach Naval Facility before it was declared extinguished early Thursday morning. An investigation into the cause of the fire is currently underway.
Sailors on the USS New Orleans, which is 684 feet long, received assistance from the crew of the USS San Diego and members of the Japanese coast guard and military in battling the fire.
The Navy confirmed that the crew will remain aboard the ship. The USS New Orleans was commissioned in 2007 and has a capacity for up to 800 personnel.
This incident occurred five years after another significant fire on the USS Bonhomme Richard, which burned for five days in San Diego and led to extensive damage. A sailor was charged in that case but was acquitted, and a subsequent Navy report identified numerous failures in command and crew response.
The situation is ongoing, and further updates will likely follow.
