Sailors injured after fire erupts on military ship in San Diego

Authorities were working to put out a fire of unreported cause on the USS Bonhomme Richard.
An explosion erupted as a roaring blaze was reported on the USS Bonhomme Richard at Naval Base San Diego
An explosion erupted as a roaring blaze was reported on the USS Bonhomme Richard at Naval Base San Diego on July 12, 2020.Allison Ash / NBC San Diego

Breaking News Emails

Get breaking news alerts and special reports. The news and stories that matter, delivered weekday mornings.
SUBSCRIBE
By Doha Madani

Several sailors were injured after an apparent explosion and fire on a military ship in San Diego, California, on Sunday.

Authorities were working to put out a fire on the USS Bonhomme Richard, according to the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department. The agency said it was working with federal firefighters to extinguish the blaze, the cause of which was not reported.

The department said that several sailors were being treated for a “variety” of injuries at the scene.

Krishna Jackson, public affairs officer for Naval Base San Diego, told NBC San Diego that the ship had undergone a regular maintenance cycle before the fire was reported.

Naval Base San Diego did not immediately respond to a call for more information from NBC News Sunday.

The USS Bonhomme Richard is an amphibious assault ship, which works to deploy and land elements of a Marine landing force. San Diego became home to the ship in 2018, after six years docked in Japan, according to the U.S. Naval Institute.