[A Navy Vet]

"I have been through a few fires... people think that steel doesn’t burn ... it doesn’t but everything on it and in it does."

Yup, most folks don't know the inside compartments of ships are painted. One small compartment can go up and the radiated heat through the bulkhead (wall) can light off the paint on the other side and create a dominoe effect. Berthing compartments are full of flammable materials, so are other compartments depending on their usage. Then you have the decking material and so much more.

Question: What is the normal amount of duty personnel on a ship nowadays on a weekend? It used to be about 1/6th of the total ship's company in my day (75-87). It was not only for fire and security watches, but mainly to get the ship underway in emergencies. Every department required enough sailors to get their systems up to speed quickly. Since this ship was doing a re-fit for F-35's, it may have had less duty sailors.

[Dacula]

Good information. But why are they fighting the fire from the back of the ship to the front and allowing it to spread?

[fso301]

Here is an aerial of Seal Beach Pier fire in Los Angeles. Notice the three small "toy fireboats" are dwarfed by the 40k GPM big boys fireboat.

Why doesn't the Port of San Diego have more capable fireboats?

[GreyHoundSailor]

I can tell you on my CG in Mayport from 94 to 96, we were in 3 section duty in home port. Perhaps that’s why our retention sucked.

[fso301]

Can anyone explain why the fireboats are directing 50 percent of the spray onto the water away from BHR??