Report: Fire on carrier GW was 'entirely preventable'

The Virginian-Pilot ^ | 6 Oct 08 | Matthew Jones

[GATOR NAVY]

The May fire aboard the carrier George Washington that injured 37 sailors, caused $70 million in damage and delayed the ship’s forward deployment to Japan was “entirely preventable,” according to the Pacific Fleet commander in a final report made public Friday.

Adm. Robert Willard faulted the ship’s leadership for improperly handling the conditions that led to the fire. And he blamed inadequate firefighting training for the long amount of time it took to locate and extinguish the fire.

Willard also aimed higher, questioning naval leaders in Hawaii, San Diego and Norfolk about “possible shortcomings” while the ship was undergoing training and about deficiencies that “appear to be systemic and may call for an overhaul” of carrier manning and training processes.

The George Washington left Norfolk for its new homeport in Yokosuka, Japan, in April. On May 22, a fire began in one of the carrier’s unmanned auxiliary boiler exhaust and supply uptake spaces. The blaze grew quickly, fed by large amounts of improperly stored hazardous materials.

It took the ship’s leaders nearly eight hours to track down the source of the blaze, by which time the fire had spread across eight stories – from the ship’s 6th deck to its 02 level – damaging more than 80 spaces. Near its origin, the fire caused significant damage to the ship’s structure, equipment and electrical cabling.

The crew fought the fire for 12 hours. Had it not been for training and equipment shortfalls, Willard wrote, the damage could have been much less.

The blaze was pegged to unauthorized smoking near flammable refrigerant oil that shouldn’t have been there.

[GATOR NAVY]

Ouch.

[huldah1776]

Expensive cigarette.

[ConorMacNessa]

Several careers ended, I presume.

Lamh Foistenach Abu!

[GitmoSailor]

George Washing leaves San Diego Aug 2008

[GitmoSailor]

George Washing leaves San Diego Aug 2008

[Iron Munro]

Political Correctness and Affirmative Action march on.

[GitmoSailor]

Sorry for double post.It only left San Diego one time!!!!!...and Washington.............

[omega4412]

If Congresscritters had 1/10 of the accountability of naval officers...

[quikdrw]

I would think so. I remember reading that the Captain & XO were fired. I didn’t realize that it would go higher.

[pabianice]

I'm glad I'm retired from the Navy. The Navy was forced into a PC nightmare in which sailors cannot be repremanded because it will "hurt someone's self-esteem." So chiefs, who used to run a tight Navy by kicking ass (literally) are reduced to pleading with Seaman Apprentice Screwup to please, please be more careful. Female recruits routinely burst into tears because their training CPOs are "mean" to them. G-d help us in the next war.

The Russian Navy may be a shadow of its former self, but my Navy isn't in much better shape. A President Obama will end the US Navy once and for all.

[ASOC]

If they cleaned huse in the USAF over the nosecones, the Navy is going to bleed ADMs.

[GATOR NAVY]

Wouldn’t that be nice.

[PISANO]

I thank the Almighty that I retired BEFORE there were women on ships. It boggles the mind to contemplate what it would be like for some sailor to start crying when I directed or reprimanded one of them for one reason or another.

In my era it was Zumwalt who, IMHO destroyed the Navy I knew, the one in which you earned privileges, not entitled to them.

[John123]

The blaze was pegged to unauthorized smoking near flammable refrigerant oil that shouldn’t have been there.

Ya think?

[MSF BU]

Inadequate training? I thought our navy was second to none when it came to damage control?

[JEH_Boston]

The blaze was pegged to unauthorized smoking near flammable refrigerant oil that shouldn’t have been there.

Two wrongs make a wronger?

[Vroomfondel]

ping

[magslinger]

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[section9]

This goes back to the Skipper and his XO, and it appears, higher command. Looks like there’s accountability in the Navy under Bob Gates, and that’s good.

Best,

Chris

[CPOSharky]

I thank the Almighty that I retired BEFORE there were women on ships. It boggles the mind to contemplate what it would be like for some sailor to start crying when I directed or reprimanded one of them for one reason or another.

Roger that.