Captain Of U.S. Aircraft Carrier Canned
News That Smoking Caused $70M Fire On Nuclear-Powered Vessel Prompts Navy To Act
-
-
Photo
In this photo provided by the Navy Visual News Service, a fire aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington caused damage to a classroom training area, seen May 25, 2008 (AP)
-
Photo
In this photo provided by the Navy Visual News Service, crew members aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) battle a fire that spread to several spaces via cableways, creating extreme heat and smoke, while the ship was in the Pacific Ocean enroute from Chile to San Diego, on May 22, 2008 (AP)
-
-
Interactive
Military 101
Basic training to learn all about America's fighting force.
The announcement by the Navy came as Adm. Robert F. Willard, commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, ordered that the carrier's commanding officer and executive officer be relieved of duty.
Willard cited lost confidence in the commanding officer and his failure to meet mission standards after the investigation found unauthorized smoking by a crew member appeared to have ignited flammable liquids and other combustible material that were improperly stored. The other man was relieved for substandard performance.
"The fire and the subsequent magnitude of the fire were the result of a series of human acts that could have been prevented," according to a statement released by the Naval Air Forces in San Diego.
The Norfolk, Va.-based carrier was en route from Chile to San Diego when the fire began on May 22.
"The smoking was happening in an unauthorized space and the evidence points to it probably was a lit cigarette that ignited the oil," said Capt. Scott Gureck, a spokesman for the U.S. Pacific Fleet. He said the investigation did not reveal who was smoking.
The Navy also on Wednesday revised the number of sailors injured during the fire from 23 to 37, saying 36 sailors were treated for minor injuries suffered while fighting the fire and one sailor suffered minor burns. All were returned to duty shortly afterward.
Smoking is allowed on aircraft carriers but only in designated areas, said Joe Walker, a spokesman with Naval Air Forces.
Flames were initially spotted near the auxiliary boiler room and air conditioning and refrigeration space in the rear of the ship. The safety of the ship's nuclear reactor wasn't threatened.
Naval officials now say it took about 12 hours to put out the fire because of the location and size. Fire and heat damaged electrical cabling and components running through 80 of the 3,800 compartments across several decks of the carrier.
The crew of the carrier has been temporarily assigned to shore duty in San Diego since shortly after the fire.
Capt. J.R. Haley, who previously commanded the nuclear-powered carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, has taken command of the carrier, replacing Capt. David C. Dykhoff. Capt. Karl O. Thomas has replaced the carrier's executive officer, Capt. David M. Dober. Dykhoff and Dober have been temporarily assigned to shore duty with the Pacific Fleet, Walker said.
Gureck would not comment on whether the Navy was considering any further disciplinary action against the two men or possibly others involved in the fire.
He said Rear Adm. Richard B. Wren, currently the USS Kitty Hawk carrier strike group commander, will decide what additional administrative and disciplinary measures, if any, will be taken when he takes over as the USS George Washington strike group commander.
The carrier was initially expected to arrive in Japan in early August to replace the USS Kitty Hawk, which is being decommissioned. The George Washington, which is now scheduled to depart San Diego in late August, is due to be stationed at the U.S. naval base in Yokosuka.
The USS George Washington, the fourth Navy ship to bear the name, was commissioned July 4, 1992. It is a Nimitz class nuclear-powered supercarrier with a crew of 3,000 but can carry up to 5,000.
© MMVIII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.



Once again the MILITARY over chargs so they can divert $$$$$$ to their secret UFO program or Under Water Basket Weaving Program.
So should we have relieved the Commander in Chief after the bungles that led to 9/11. Not glorified him as the poor embattled president, and a whiney victim.
Posted by Nancy_Naive at 10:44 AM : Jul 31, 2008
Be nice nancy, it wasn''t his plane that burned the Forrestall. But, he was next to it.
Posted by Nancy_Naive at 10:44 AM : Jul 31, 2008
Be nice nancy, it wasn''''t his plane that burned the Forrestall. But, he was next to it.
Posted by tcandrews62 at 10:49 AM : Jul 31, 2008
It is "rumored" that McCain "wet started" his jet and the flareout of flames from his exhaust setoff missiles on the plane behind his.
The nickname for the Forrestal was "USS Zippo"...
The nickname for the Forrestal was "USS Zippo"..."
Posted by IOWEIGN at 11:02 AM : Jul 31, 2008
You guys just aren''t right...Have a great day..
Posted by mcdonaj3 at 11:04 AM : Jul 31, 2008
Were you in the Navy? Who said that they allowed smoking in those areas? Again, it could have just as easily been oil soaked rags.
Navy Carriers are anything but glamourours when they are actually conducting full time mission operations.
The crew members are frequently exposed to a long series of hazards and fight to break the chain of events that lead to a disaster all the time by executing checklists.
Continual 12+ hour work days and split-shifts don''t help get those checklists completed.
Smoking shouldn''t be banned on carriers because of this. We already don''t allow alcohol consumption (with certain "medical" exceptions, ie. after ditching an aircraft and being plucked from the sea) Some navies allow limited alcohol consumption by crew, on board.
These sailors are living at sea for long periods of time. Banning smoking in safe areas on a huge ship would hurt morale, and wouldn''t have prevented this violation.
Posted by IOWEIGN at 11:02 AM : Jul 31, 2008
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The nick of the Forrestal was the "ForestFire"
The Zippo was one of the other 4 carriers that caught fire in Vietnam.
Posted by Nancy_Naive at 11:07 AM : Jul 31, 2008
From Wikipedia:
Nickname: Forrest Fire, Firestal, Zippo, The FID
She was the largest aircraft carrier since Shinano of World War II vintage, and the first to specifically support jet aircraft. The ship was affectionately called "The FID", because James Forrestal was the first ever Secretary of Defense, FID standing for "First In Defense". This is also the slogan on the ship''s insignia and patch. She was also informally known in the fleet as the "Zippo" and "Forrest Fire" because of a number of highly publicized fires onboard.
http://tinyurl.com/5wl56l
And smoking on ship... by golly these men are out there for months at a time working 12 hours on 12 off 7 days a week... let them have their smoke break... anyone out there addicted to smoking???? Well not a pretty site if you have a 1000+ at sea going through withdrawl!! Talk about mistakes that would be made!!! Let them have a smoke!!!
Why don''t we put ourselves int eh shoes of those at sea. think about a huge fire onboard. no land to go to.it is a very serious thing! Be below deck and have nothing but smoke. no fresh air...And 5000 people needing rescue.OK I think all said and done those 37 injured men fighting this fire saved lives of those on board A huge thanks to them and a a job well done!
To the dumb- who put a burning cig on oil rags in a non smoking place. hope they place proper punishment on him, and any others who were involved.
How dare they put the lives of fellow sailors at risk!
They canned a Capt. Well he wrote his tickit. Now will they lower his rank..
Posted by nikosk1 at 05:45 PM : Jul 31, 2008
You have no Idea of what you are talking about! You are repeating the same lies that others have spread on the internet.
I do not support John McCain. However, he deserves the truth to be published (I disagree with the "swift-boating" of John Kerry as well).
The missile was fired from an airplane across from him, not behind him. The video plainly shows this. The only way he could have had anything to do with this is if he actually wet-started and the missile was activated (heat seeking capability turned on)and electronically free. Missiles can''t normally be launched while wheels on deck (activated by scissor switch).
An electrical surge is the most likely source.
Quit spreading foolish stories from foolish agenda driven sources!
By the way, I was a weapons systes tech in the navy...
The point is clear, when we take the best we have and place it in the hands of a trusted leader, we don''t give a second chance to make serious errors.
-
by libsluv2spit
August 2, 2008 1:00 AM EDT
- the liberals are right..a person should be outright fired and PUNISHED for every incompetent and mediocre mistakes..
-
Reply to this comment
-
See all 35 Commentshumm we cant..they have the liberal unions that make sure that never happens..
wonder why