12-Hour Blaze Contained Aboard USS New OrleansAccording to a statement from the U.S. 7th Fleet, the fire began at approximately 4 p.m. on Wednesday, August 20, and was put out by 4 a.m. the following morning. The 25,000-ton vessel is now anchored near the White Beach Naval Facility.
USS New Orleans (LPD-18) on Aug. 20. 2025. NHK image
Navy Confirms Two Sailors Sustained Minor InjuriesDuring the firefighting efforts, two sailors suffered minor injuries. They were treated aboard New Orleans and remain in stable condition. The ship’s crew will continue to stay aboard, though additional accommodations are being made available on the USS San Diego (LPD-22) and at nearby facilities if necessary.Joint U.S.-Japan Firefighting ResponseThe firefighting response was a coordinated effort involving the USS San Diego, which provided direct assistance, along with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and the Japan Coast Guard.Japanese broadcaster NHK reported that the Japan Coast Guard received a call for assistance around 5 p.m. local time, roughly an hour after the blaze was first reported. Footage showed two tugboats using water cannons to douse the bow of the New Orleans as the fire was fought.“The crew is currently engaged in firefighting efforts, but we have requested the Japan Coast Guard to provide firefighting assistance,” a Coast Guard official told NHK during the incident.Fire Location and Damage Under ReviewWhile Navy officials have not yet confirmed the full extent of the damage, images from Japanese media suggest the heaviest firefighting efforts were concentrated in an area of the ship used primarily for storage and berthing. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.Lessons from Past Naval FiresThe incident recalls the devastating fire aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6) in 2020, which burned for four days while docked in San Diego and ultimately led to the ship being scrapped. Following that disaster, the Navy implemented extensive reforms to improve its firefighting training, shipboard safety procedures, and coordination with allied forces.The USS New Orleans, based in Sasebo, Japan, is part of the Navy’s forward-deployed amphibious force in the Pacific, playing a critical role in regional security and rapid-response missions.Navy’s Official StatementThe U.S. 7th Fleet emphasized in its August 20 statement that the cause of the blaze is under investigation but reassured that “critical support from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, the Japan Coast Guard, and U.S. Navy commands from Fleet Activities Okinawa was instrumental in successfully extinguishing the fire.”
USS New Orleans (LPD-18) on Aug. 20. 2025. NHK imageNavy Confirms Two Sailors Sustained Minor InjuriesDuring the firefighting efforts, two sailors suffered minor injuries. They were treated aboard New Orleans and remain in stable condition. The ship’s crew will continue to stay aboard, though additional accommodations are being made available on the USS San Diego (LPD-22) and at nearby facilities if necessary.Joint U.S.-Japan Firefighting ResponseThe firefighting response was a coordinated effort involving the USS San Diego, which provided direct assistance, along with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and the Japan Coast Guard.Japanese broadcaster NHK reported that the Japan Coast Guard received a call for assistance around 5 p.m. local time, roughly an hour after the blaze was first reported. Footage showed two tugboats using water cannons to douse the bow of the New Orleans as the fire was fought.“The crew is currently engaged in firefighting efforts, but we have requested the Japan Coast Guard to provide firefighting assistance,” a Coast Guard official told NHK during the incident.Fire Location and Damage Under ReviewWhile Navy officials have not yet confirmed the full extent of the damage, images from Japanese media suggest the heaviest firefighting efforts were concentrated in an area of the ship used primarily for storage and berthing. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.Lessons from Past Naval FiresThe incident recalls the devastating fire aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6) in 2020, which burned for four days while docked in San Diego and ultimately led to the ship being scrapped. Following that disaster, the Navy implemented extensive reforms to improve its firefighting training, shipboard safety procedures, and coordination with allied forces.The USS New Orleans, based in Sasebo, Japan, is part of the Navy’s forward-deployed amphibious force in the Pacific, playing a critical role in regional security and rapid-response missions.Navy’s Official StatementThe U.S. 7th Fleet emphasized in its August 20 statement that the cause of the blaze is under investigation but reassured that “critical support from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, the Japan Coast Guard, and U.S. Navy commands from Fleet Activities Okinawa was instrumental in successfully extinguishing the fire.”
