Re: USS GEORGE WASHINGTON - Navy cites smoking as likely cause of carrier fire that caused $70 million in damage


"Cap'n Crunch" <Cap'n@Scrambled Eggs.Org> wrote in message
news:ydbkk.611$rb5.512@xxxxxxxxxxx
Navy cites smoking as likely cause of carrier fire

By CHELSEA J. CARTER, Associated Press Writer 1 hour, 1 minute ago
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080731/ap_on_re_us/aircraft_carrier_fire

SAN DIEGO - Smoking appears to have sparked a fire that caused $70 million
in damage to the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington,
Naval officials said Wednesday

The announcement by the Navy came as Adm. Robert F. Willard, commander of
the U.S. Pacific Fleet, ordered that the carrier's commanding officer,
Capt. David C. Dykhoff, and the executive officer of duty, Capt. David M.
Dober, be relieved of duty.

Willard cited lost confidence in the commanding officer and his failure to
meet mission standards after the investigation found unauthorized smoking
by a crew member appeared to have ignited flammable liquids and other
combustible material that were improperly stored. The other officer was
relieved of duty for substandard performance.

"The fire and the subsequent magnitude of the fire were the result of a
series of human acts that could have been prevented," according to a
statement released by the Naval Air Forces in San Diego.

The Norfolk, Va.-based carrier was en route from Chile to San Diego when
the fire began on May 22.

"The smoking was happening in an unauthorized space and the evidence
points to it probably was a lit cigarette that ignited the oil," said
Capt. Scott Gureck, a spokesman for the U.S. Pacific Fleet. He said the
investigation did not reveal who was smoking.

Flames were initially spotted near the auxiliary boiler room and air
conditioning and refrigeration space in the rear of the ship. The safety
of the ship's nuclear reactor wasn't threatened.

Naval officials now say it took about 12 hours to put out the fire because
of the location and size. Fire and heat damaged electrical cabling and
components running through 80 of the 3,800 compartments across several
decks of the carrier.

The crew of the carrier has been temporarily assigned to shore duty in San
Diego since shortly after the fire.

Capt. J.R. Haley, who previously commanded the nuclear-powered carrier USS
Theodore Roosevelt, has taken command of the carrier, replacing Dykhoff.
Capt. Karl O. Thomas has replaced Dober. Dykhoff and Dober have been
temporarily assigned to shore duty with the Pacific Fleet, Walker said.

The Navy also revised the number of sailors injured during the fire from
23 to 37, saying 36 sailors were treated for minor injuries suffered while
fighting the fire and one sailor suffered minor burns. All were returned
to duty shortly afterward.

Gureck would not comment on whether the Navy was considering further
disciplinary action against the two officers or possibly other people.

He said Rear Adm. Richard B. Wren, currently the USS Kitty Hawk carrier
strike group commander, will decide what additional administrative and
disciplinary measures, if any, will be taken when he becomes the USS
George Washington strike group commander.

The carrier was initially expected to arrive in Japan in early August to
replace the USS Kitty Hawk, which is being decommissioned. The George
Washington, which is now scheduled to depart San Diego in late August, is
due to be stationed at the U.S. naval base in Yokosuka.

The USS George Washington, the fourth Navy ship to bear the name, was
commissioned July 4, 1992. It is a Nimitz class nuclear-powered
supercarrier with a crew of 3,000 but can carry up to 5,000.



This might be a dumb question:
How many of the 3000 crew would normally be fully qualified in firefighting?


.

Relevant Pages

  • USS GEORGE WASHINGTON - Navy cites smoking as likely cause of carrier fire that caused $70 milli
    ... SAN DIEGO - Smoking appears to have sparked a fire that caused $70 million ... in damage to the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington, ...
    (sci.military.naval)
  • CA Officials Say Sen Hairless Reid is a Fool, an Arsonist Set the Fires
    ... SAN DIEGO - A major wildfire that has scorched thousands of acres and destroyed hundreds of homes in Southern California has been declared an arson, according to Orange County law enforcement and FBI officials on Wednesday. ... Officials said that there is a $70,000 reward for information leading to an arrest for those responsible for the Santiago fire in the rugged eastern part of the county. ...
    (alt.politics)
  • Major California Wildfire Declared Arson
    ... SAN DIEGO - A major wildfire that has scorched thousands of acres and destroyed hundreds of homes in Southern California has been declared an arson, according to Orange County law enforcement and FBI officials said on Wednesday. ... Officials said that there is a $70,000 reward for information leading to an arrest for those responsible for the Santiago fire in the rugged eastern part of the county. ...
    (alt.true-crime)
  • Re: USS GEORGE WASHINGTON - Navy cites smoking as likely cause of carrier fire that caused $70 m
    ... SAN DIEGO - Smoking appears to have sparked a fire that caused $70 million in damage to the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington, ... He said Rear Adm. Richard B. Wren, currently the USS Kitty Hawk carrier strike group commander, will decide what additional administrative and disciplinary measures, if any, will be taken when he becomes the USS George Washington strike group commander. ...
    (sci.military.naval)
  • Raging Calif. wildfires force 1M to flee
    ... frenzy across Southern California, firefighters all but conceded ... all the way to the ocean before it stops," said San Diego Fire Capt. ... 600 square miles, killing one person, destroying more than 1,300 homes ...
    (rec.arts.tv)