Fires are starting on US warships in port more often than reported, watchdog finds, and it's giving the Navy a 'false sense of security'

Mon, 04/24/2023 - 16:45

uss bonhomme richard — SAN DIEGO (July 13, 2020) Firefighting efforts to combat the blaze aboard amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6).
US Navy

Fires are breaking out on Navy ships in port more often than they are reported, a government watchdog found.
The GAO flagged multiple problems with the reporting system, as well as how lessons are learned from fires.
It said the incomplete picture has "given the Navy a false sense of security."

More fires are breaking out on US Navy ships while in port than are reported, so the service doesn't have a clear picture of its fire problem and is not learning the lessons it should, a government watchdog found, noting the deficiencies leave the Navy vulnerable to the possibility of a catastrophe.