Replies

I was on the AMERICA CV 66. Yeah I knew how to make a ship go D.I.W. but quickly reversible. All Machinist Mates, Boiler Techs, and Fire Dept, knew where the emergency fuel cut off switches were. Activating one without Chief Engineers or Captains orders unless it was warranted by your qualified opinion to do so was a Court Martial offense.

It was safety switches located outside the boiler rooms to save lives in the event of a boiler room disaster. All Snipes {engineering /propulsion crew know this information. Yes if someone got mad they {might} get away with tripping them but would have a major butt kicking coming there way before the MAA's took perp to the Captain. I was a Machinist Mate and a Fire Fighter on the ships fire department.

For what it's worth I was involved in a fire investigation and likely suspect simply because I found a fire in a storage locker while I was on Fire Dept and was off duty. I smelled the smoke and touched the hatch of the suspected space and it was hot.

I had access to all spaces because I was on FD and it was in the shipyard. I had to have access to do safety walk throughs assigned me. When I discovered the fire I ran to the QD because the ships phones were out, and did the fire bell call from the 1MC there. IIRC I identified myself so the guy at the DC desk would know it was not a prank. Later that night or the next morning I was in the N.I.S. office being questioned.

I never thought anymore about it till we left the yards and we had an inspection on the flighdeck. I was supposed to be on watch and Chief took me off and said you gotta go to inspection the Captain wants to see you. About 45 of us were given Letters of Commendation. That was the biggest fire in my years onboard. It transfered heat from the Hanger Deck to the 03 level. After I had called the fire out I went up to the fire department berthing area and geared up to do OBA investigating of adjoining spaces near the fire. We hosed the ships Barber Shop because the floor tiles were bucking form the fire two decks below.

AS for Fire Bugs on a ship? Hang their sorry hides. Go to Youtube and watch Trial By Fire a Navy training film. That fire in that film was real but accidental. I'm not gonna mention the ships name because some nutjobs who know nothing about carriers will start up their favorite conspiracy theory that has been disproven and debunked time and time again.