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After short evacuation, firefighters return to Bonhomme Richard

Written by Nick Blenkey
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Navy photo taken today show sailors putting on firefighting gear in preparation for damage control efforts aboard USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6). [U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Brandie Nuzzi]

UPDATE: Navy now reports all known fires extinguished.

As of 6:00 a.m. Pacific time July 16, firefighting teams were back on board USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) continuing operations. At 2.30 a.m., the Navy had reported that the pier and ship had been cleared of personnel, out of an abundance of caution, due to an initial shift in the ship’s list.

Yesterday, local media reported a Navy spokeswoman as saying firefighting teams had made “sigificant progress,” but that there was “still a lot of work to be done.”

The full extent of damage to the ship remains unclear. Images posted on social media show that, among other things, the ship’s mast has collapsed.

In a press briefing on July 14, Rear Adm. Philip Sobeck, Commander, Expeditionary Strike Group 3 said: “First, we have investigated the four main engineering spaces and found no major damage. There is no threat to the fuel tanks, which is well-below any active fires or heat sources. The ship is stable and the structure is safe.”

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