Fire Aboard USS New Orleans Burned For 12 Hours Before Being Extinguished (Updated)
The U.S. Navy’s San Antonio class amphibious warfare ship USS New Orleans suffered a fire today while it was off White Beach in Uruma City on the Japanese island of Okinawa.
A U.S. official has confirmed to TWZ that the blaze has been contained, but it is unclear at this time if it has been fully extinguished. The fire started at about 5:00 PM local time (4:00 AM Eastern), according to NHK in Japan. At the time of writing, there have been no reports of casualties, and the cause and extent of the damage remain unknown. The New Orleans is homeported in Sasebo on the Japanese home island of Kyushu to the north, and is assigned to the U.S. 7th Fleet.
“Crews are responding to a fire aboard USS New Orleans (LPD 18) this evening, Aug. 20, (Japan Time), which is in the vicinity of Okinawa, Japan,” another Navy spokesperson had earlier told TWZ in a statement. “We will provide more details as they become available.”
“Smoke was confirmed rising from the bow of the ship, but so far there have been no requests to evacuate the crew,” a Japanese Coast Guard official told NHK. A Navy spokesperson confirmed to us that no evacuation order has been given.
Videos from the scene posted by NHK show two firefighting tugs located on both sides of the bow pouring water on the vessel. A Navy spokesperson told us the tugs were from White Beach Naval Facility in Okinawa.
NHK reported that Japan Self-Defense Force vessels arrived to conduct firefighting efforts, and the Japan Coast Guard had also dispatched a patrol boat to the scene. A Navy spokesperson earlier told TWZ that they believed that the ship’s crew, plus the two tugs from White Beach, had been actively fighting the fire.
Okinawa’s White Beach is “a staging area for Marines and their equipment based on Okinawa,” according to the Navy. “This departure point allows utility landing craft and air-cushioned landing vehicles to ferry troops, vehicles and equipment to amphibious ships pier side or at sea.”
The cause of the fire and extent of the damage will be investigated, a Navy spokesperson also told TWZ.
Update, 5:52 PM Eastern:
The U.S. 7th Fleet has now put out a statement regarding the fire aboard USS New Orleans, which it says was extinguished at approximately 4:00 AM local time on August 21. This is roughly 12 hours after the blaze began. Two crew members were treated aboard the ship for unspecified “minor injuries.” An investigation is now underway.
The full statement is as follows:
“A fire aboard the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS New Orleans (LPD 18), which is anchored near White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa, was declared extinguished at 4 a.m., Aug. 21.
The fire began at approximately 4 p.m., Aug. 20. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.
New Orleans Sailors’ firefighting efforts were supported by the crew of the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS San Diego (LPD 22), which is moored at White Beach Naval Facility.
Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force; Japan Coast Guard; and U.S. Navy commands from across Commander, Fleet Activities Okinawa also provided critical support to the firefighting efforts.
Two Sailors were taken to New Orleans’ medical for minor injuries.
New Orleans’ crew will remain aboard the ship. Additional services and berthing are available aboard San Diego and Commander, Fleet Activities Okinawa, if needed.
Continue to follow U.S. 7th Fleet for updates.”
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