SAN DIEGO - Sailors reported a fire aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) at approximately 8:30 a.m., July 12, while moored at Naval Base San Diego.

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(July 16, 1 p.m. PDT update) The following statement is from Rear Adm. Philip Sobeck, commander of Expeditionary Strike Group 3.

"After four days of firefighting, all known fires have been extinguished aboard USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6).

"Our fire teams are investigating every space to verify the absence of fire. Until every space is checked and there are no active fires we will not be able to commence any official investigations.

"We did not know the origin of the fire. We do not know the extent of the damage. It is too early to make any predictions or promises of what the future of the ship will be. We cannot make any conclusions, until the investigation is complete.

"What we do know is, that brave Sailors from commands all across San Diego worked tirelessly alongside federal firefighters to get this fire extinguished and I want to thank them for their efforts. This was a Navy team effort. We had support from the air and sea. Three helicopter squadrons conducted more than 1,500 water bucket drops, fighting the fire and cooling the super structure and flight deck enabling fire crews to get onboard to fight the fire.

"Tugs also provided firefighting support from the waterline, cooling the ship’s hull. We had 63 personnel, 40 U.S. Navy Sailors and 23 civilians, treated for minor injuries including heat exhaustion and smoke inhalation. We have no personnel hospitalized. The Navy continues to work together with regulators, county and state in protecting our environment and preparing to address the community’s concerns as we move forward to the next phase.

"I’d like to thank our partners from state and county, the U.S. Coast Guard, and all agencies for continued support."

(July 16, 11 a.m. PDT update) Rear Adm. Philip Sobeck, commander of Expeditionary Strike Group 3, will hold a 2 p.m. PDT press conference (watch live on the Surface Warriors Facebook page) to provide updates and discuss the fire aboard USS Bonhomme Richard.

(July 16, 6 a.m. PDT update) Firefighting teams are aboard USS Bonhomme Richard continuing operations. The total personnel treated for minor injuries remains 63 (40 Sailors and 23 civilians).

(July 15, 11 p.m. PDT update) Out of an abundance of caution the pier and ship were cleared of personnel due to an initial shift in the ship’s list. Personnel are now pierside. We will continue to monitor as the ship settles.

(July 15, 3:30 p.m. PDT update) Firefighting efforts continue. There are no scheduled press conferences today.

(July 15, 6 a.m. PDT update) Firefighting teams continue operations aboard USS Bonhomme Richard. Sixty-three personnel (40 Sailors and 23 civilians) have been treated for minor injuries including heat exhaustion and smoke inhalation. Currently, there are no personnel hospitalized. Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 3 has conducted more than 1,500 helicopter water bucket drops, which is cooling the superstructure and flight deck, enabling fire crews to get aboard internally to fight the fire.

(July 14, 11 a.m. PDT update) Rear Adm. Philip Sobeck, commander of Expeditionary Strike Group 3, made the following statement to open today's press conference in San Diego.

"I’d like to start by thanking the people of San Diego, National City, Coronado, and all the other communities in San Diego County for their continued support. For more than 48 hours brave Sailors from commands all across San Diego have been working tirelessly alongside Federal Fire San Diego to get this fire under control and I want to thank them for their efforts.

"I want to provide you with some updates on the progress we have made: 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. We still have an active fire, which we are combatting from both within and outside the ship from multiple access points. HSC 3 helicopters have conducted more than 1,000 helicopter water bucket drops, which is cooling the super structure and flight deck enabling fire crews to get onboard internally to fight the fire. Tugs are also provide firefighting support from the waterline. I’m proud of the toughness of the Sailors and federal firefighters for making this significant progress possible.

"At this time there are 61 personnel, 38 U.S. Navy Sailors and 23 civilians, have been treated for minor injuries including heat exhaustion and smoke inhalation. Currently, there are no personnel hospitalized.

"Going forward, the Navy will do a thorough investigation of the incident to include assessing the cause of the fire and damage to the ship, but right now our focus remains on putting out the fire and keeping people safe.

"I’d like to also thank our partners from state and county as well as the Coast Guard for monitoring the potential impacts to the environment. As we continue to fight the fire, we remain cognizant of environmental concerns regarding the water and air quality. We recommend residents follow county advisories for safety out of an abundance of caution.

"Thank you again for your being here and we are now ready to take your questions."

(July 14, 9:30 a.m. PDT update) Sailors and civilian fire crews continue to combat the fire aboard USS Bonhomme Richard. An 11 a.m. PDT press conference will stream live on the Surface Warriors Facebook page.

(July 13, 3:30 p.m. PDT update) Firefighting teams continue operations aboard the ship. Fifty-nine personnel (36 Sailors and and 23 civilians) have been treated for minor injuries including heat exhaustion and smoke inhalation. Currently, there are no personnel hospitalized.

(July 13, 6:30 a.m. PDT update) Firefighting teams continue operations aboard the ship. Fifty-seven personnel (34 Sailors and 23 civilians) have been treated for minor injuries including heat exhaustion and smoke inhalation. Of those, five remain hospitalized for observation and are currently in stable condition.

(July 13, 3:30 a.m. PDT update) Firefighting teams continue operations aboard USS Bonhomme Richard in addition to aerial firefighting operations that commenced via helicopter water bucket at 10:30 p.m. with two helicopters from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 3. There are five Sailors admitted to local hospitals for observation. All are in stable condition.

(July 12, 11:30 p.m. PDT update) Defensive operations continue aboard USS Bonhomme Richard. Additionally, aerial firefighting operations commenced via helicopter water bucket at 10:30 p.m. with two helicopters from HSC-3.

(July 12, 10:24 p.m. PDT update) There are 15 personnel (13 Sailors and two federal Fire firefighters) admitted to local hospitals. All are currently in stable condition.

(July 12, 9 p.m. PDT update) There are 16 personnel (15 Sailors, one federal Fire firefighter) admitted to local hospitals. All are currently in stable condition.

(July 12, 6:30 p.m. PDT update) Federal Fire San Diego is the on-scene lead for the continuing firefighting efforts.

"Currently there are two firefighting teams fighting the fire aboard the ship,” said Federal Fire San Diego Division Chief Rob Bondurant. “Federal Fire is rotating their crews aboard the ship with U.S. Navy firefighting crews from the waterfront to fight the fire in order to find the seat of the fire and extinguish it. Also, Navy Region Southwest tugs are continuously combatting the fire from the bay.”

(July 12, 2:30 p.m. PDT update) Thus far 17 Sailors and four civilians are being treated for non-life threatening injuries at a local hospital.

At approximately 1 p.m. the guided missile destroyers USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) and USS Russell (DDG 59) shifted berths to a pier further away from the fire.

(July 12, 1:36 p.m. PDT update) Approximately 160 Sailors were aboard at the time. USS Bonhomme Richard has a crew size of approximately 1000.

Local, base and shipboard firefighters are responding to the fire.

The origin of the fire is unknown and is pending investigation.

Bonhomme Richard is in San Diego for a regularly scheduled maintenance availability.