Fire on Cruiser in Drydock

First reported as an explosion, the fire on the USS Leyte Gulf (CG 55) appears less serious. These types of industrial accidents happen, and honestly it is a credit to quality of American shipyard workers it doesn't happen more often.

Five shipyard workers were injured, some burned, on Saturday when fumes "flashed" into a small fire aboard the guided missile cruiser Leyte Gulf.

"There's nothing to believe it's suspicious," said Battalion Chief Bruce Evans, a spokesman for Norfolk Fire-Rescue. "It was an industrial accident."

The incident, at 9:29 a.m., came as the ship is undergoing modernization. It is docked at BAE Systems Norfolk Ship Repair, in the 700 block of Berkley Ave.

"It was a fairly small incident," Evans said, although it initially drew national attention as news networks reported that there had been "an explosion" aboard the warship.

"No way does this appear linked to any type of terrorist activities," Evans said.

He said crews, working in a berthing area two decks below the main deck, were using a lacquer thinner to strip floors.

Fumes from the cleaning materials built up and ignited, investigators from the shipyard and the fire department determined, Evans said Saturday night.

He said there really wasn't a "big boom" of an explosion. Rather, there was a loud noise - more like a "woomph" - when the fumes ignited.

Exactly what sparked the fumes could not be determined, however, Evans said.

They may not know what ignited the fire yet, but they will find the cause. The USS Leyte Gulf (CG 55) returned from its last deployment on November 18, 2024 with the USS Enterprise Strike Group, but went into a maintenance period and did not deploy with the Enterprise CSG this summer. The extent of the damage remains unknown, but historically we don't learn the extent of the damage in industrial accidents to warships until the investigation is complete and cost of damage is released.