Fire on USS New Orleans off Okinawa under investigation

A fire aboard the USS New Orleans, a San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock, burned for about 12 hours while the vessel was docked off Okinawa, Japan, prompting cooperation between U.S. and Japanese forces to control the blaze. Two sailors sustained minor injuries, and the fire was declared extinguished early Thursday morning. Officials said the cause is under investigation, no oil spills occurred, and the crew would remain aboard the ship as investigators assess how the fire began.

The incident began in the late afternoon local time on Wednesday as the ship was moored at White Beach Naval Facility in Uruma City, near Okinawa. Thick black smoke was visible as firefighting teams from the USS New Orleans, the nearby USS San Diego, and Japanese authorities worked through the night. The Navy’s 7th Fleet said the fire was contained but not fully extinguished at times during the early phases of the response, with full control achieved by the following morning. Two sailors were treated for minor injuries in the ship’s medical bay.

The USS New Orleans is a 684-foot San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock capable of carrying up to 800 personnel, including Marines. Commissioned...