A billion-dollar warship destroyed by fire, yet the accused sailor walked free

Cultures · Published 10 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: The USS Bonhomme Richard was a formidable Wasp-class amphibious assault ship, capable of launching helicopters and strike aircraft. Yet, a 2020 fire at a San Diego shipyard turned this multi-billion dollar asset into scrap. While the Navy sought a culprit, the resulting investigation revealed systemic failures in leadership and readiness.

Commissioned in 1998, the USS Bonhomme Richard served for over two decades, supporting operations in Iraq and providing humanitarian aid after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. The ship’s career ended abruptly on 12 July 2020, when a blaze broke out in a lower deck area typically used for parking military vehicles. Because the vessel was undergoing maintenance, onboard fire-suppression systems were disabled, and temporary utility lines prevented crews from sealing hatches to contain the flames.

The fire burned for four days, injuring 63 people and causing catastrophic damage to 11 of the ship's 14 decks. A subsequent Navy report highlighted a culture of negligence, citing missing firefighting equipment, poor communication, and a lack of training. Admiral Samuel Paparo described the crew as unprepared, noting that safety protocols established after a 2012 fire on the USS Miami were ignored. Ultimately, the Navy determined that repairing the ship would cost up to $3.2 billion and take seven years, leading to its decommissioning in April 2021.

The legal aftermath was equally contentious. Seaman Apprentice Ryan Sawyer Mays was charged with aggravated arson and hazarding a vessel. His defense argued that the Navy was scapegoating him to deflect from institutional failures, pointing to improper storage of materials like lithium batteries as a potential cause. In September 2022, a military judge acquitted Mays of all charges. While the ship was sold for scrap for $3.66 million, the Navy disciplined 20 sailors and officers, including senior leadership, for their roles in the disaster.

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