U.S. Sailors Injured in Shipboard Fire; USS New Orleans Anchored Off Japan

By Fakorede King Abdulmajeed | Fuxma Media | August 21, 2025

A fire that broke out aboard a United States Navy warship anchored off Okinawa, Japan, burned for roughly 12 hours before being extinguished early Thursday, according to Navy officials. The blaze left two sailors with minor injuries and prompted a large-scale firefighting effort involving Japanese and American forces.

The incident occurred Wednesday afternoon on the USS New Orleans, a San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock commissioned in 2007. The ship was anchored near the White Beach Naval Facility in Okinawa when smoke and flames were first reported.

The Navy’s 7th Fleet said the fire was contained and declared extinguished in the early hours of Thursday. Both injured sailors were treated onboard and did not require evacuation. More than 360 crew members remained on the vessel throughout the emergency.

Japanese authorities were immediately called to assist. The Japan Coast Guard and the Maritime Self-Defense Force deployed ships and personnel, joining U.S. Navy units including the USS San Diego in battling the blaze. Local reports indicate the coordinated response helped prevent the fire from spreading to other sections of the ship.

At its peak, the fire drew comparisons to the 2020 disaster aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard in San Diego, which burned for five days and was ultimately decommissioned due to irreparable damage. While officials have not disclosed the extent of the damage to the New Orleans, the Navy has stressed that the incident remains under investigation and that the cause of the fire is not yet known.

The USS New Orleans, measuring 684 feet and capable of carrying over 800 Marines in addition to its crew, is designed for amphibious assault operations, including transporting and landing forces by air and sea. Its presence in Okinawa reflects the long-standing American military footprint in the region, where more than 25,000 U.S. personnel are stationed.

The Navy acknowledged the severity of the incident but emphasized that the rapid response of both American and Japanese units prevented further casualties. In a statement, the 7th Fleet underscored that “safety of the crew and the preservation of the ship” remain the top priorities as the investigation proceeds.

For Okinawa, where the concentration of American bases has long been a source of political friction, the fire is likely to add to scrutiny of U.S. military operations in the area. For the Navy, the incident is another reminder of the risks posed by shipboard fires, even outside combat zones.