USS Bonhomme Richard Fire: What Started It? Was It Arson?

Why the USS Bonhomme Richard Fire Still Gets People Talking

The USS Bonhomme Richard fire is one of those military disasters that sounds almost impossible at first: a massive U.S. Navy warship, docked safely in San Diego, burned for days and was eventually scrapped. No missiles. No enemy attack. No dramatic Hollywood submarine duel. Just smoke, confusion, heat, missing readiness, and a ship that went from national asset to scrap-yard candidate with frightening speed.

The story became even more complicated when investigators pointed to arson, the Navy charged a young sailor, and then a military judge acquitted him. That left the public with a frustrating question: if the accused sailor did not legally start the fire, what exactly happened aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard?

The best answer is not a neat one-sentence headline. The fire started in the lower vehicle storage area, spread rapidly because of combustible materials and degraded fire readiness, and overwhelmed a ship that was in a vulnerable maintenance condition. The arson question remains tangled because the Navy’s administrative conclusions and the criminal trial outcome did not line up cleanly. In plain English: the Navy believed the fire was intentionally set, but prosecutors failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Ryan Sawyer Mays did it.

What Was the USS Bonhomme Richard?

The USS Bonhomme Richard, hull number LHD-6, was a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship. Ships like this are often described as “small aircraft carriers,” although Navy people may raise an eyebrow at that phrase. Its job was to carry Marines, helicopters, landing craft, vehicles, supplies, and aircraft into expeditionary operations. It was a floating airport, garage, command post, warehouse, and apartment building rolled into one very expensive steel city.

Commissioned in 1998, Bonhomme Richard had decades of expected service life remaining when the fire broke out. At the time, the ship was undergoing a major maintenance and modernization period. That matters because ships in maintenance are not in their normal fighting configuration. Equipment may be disabled, access routes may be blocked, temporary services may snake through watertight doors, and combustible material can pile up in places where it absolutely should not become the guest of honor at a fire.

When and Where Did the Fire Start?

The fire began on the morning of July 12, 2020, while the ship was moored at Naval Base San Diego. The first reports placed the origin in the lower vehicle storage area, often called “Lower V.” That space is normally used for vehicles and equipment, but during maintenance it had become a storage-heavy area containing materials that helped the fire grow.

According to Navy findings and later safety reviews, the area included items such as cloth, paper, rags, lithium batteries, and other materials that should have been better controlled. That may sound like ordinary clutter, but aboard a ship, ordinary clutter is not ordinary. It is potential fuel. On a vessel with vertical shafts, ladders, ventilation paths, and complex compartments, fire can travel in ways that feel less like a campfire and more like a monster with a map.

The fire burned for more than four days. Temperatures were reported to have reached extreme levels, damaging 11 of the ship’s 14 decks. More than 60 sailors and civilians were treated for injuries such as smoke inhalation and heat exhaustion. The good news was that no one died. The bad news was everything else.

What Started the USS Bonhomme Richard Fire?

The official Navy command investigation stated that the fire started in the Lower V area and described the ignition as arson. However, the exact mechanics of ignition were difficult to establish publicly in a way that satisfied everyone, especially after the criminal case collapsed in court.

There are three important layers to understand:

1. The physical starting point was the lower vehicle storage area

This part is not seriously disputed. The fire originated deep inside the ship in the lower vehicle storage area. That location mattered because it was several decks below the flight deck, making access difficult and creating a dangerous environment for firefighters. Smoke, heat, poor visibility, and the maze-like layout of a ship under maintenance made the initial response extremely challenging.

2. The Navy believed the fire was intentionally set

The Navy’s administrative investigation treated the ignition as arson. Navy prosecutors later charged Seaman Apprentice Ryan Sawyer Mays with aggravated arson and willfully hazarding a vessel. Prosecutors argued that he had motive and opportunity. The defense strongly disagreed, arguing that the case relied heavily on shifting eyewitness testimony and lacked physical evidence tying Mays to the fire.

3. The criminal trial ended with an acquittal

In September 2022, a military judge found Mays not guilty. That outcome is crucial. It means the government did not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Mays committed arson or willfully hazarded the ship. It does not automatically prove the fire was accidental, but it does mean the public record should not describe Mays as the person who started it.

So, what started the fire? The safest and most accurate answer is: the fire started in the lower vehicle storage area; the Navy’s administrative report attributed it to arson; the only sailor charged was acquitted; and no person has been publicly convicted of starting it.

Was It Arson?

The arson question depends on whether you are asking administratively, legally, or practically.

Administratively: The Navy said yes

The Navy’s command investigation and related public discussion treated the fire as intentionally set. That conclusion shaped accountability actions, safety reviews, and the criminal investigation. From the Navy’s internal perspective, arson was the accepted cause of ignition.

Legally: No one was convicted

In a court-martial, “the Navy believes this happened” is not enough. Prosecutors must prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt. In the Mays case, the military judge determined the evidence was insufficient. The defense raised questions about the reliability of witness testimony and the lack of physical evidence. The result: not guilty.

Practically: The bigger disaster was systemic failure

Even if an intentional act sparked the fire, the ship was not lost simply because a flame appeared. Fires start; ships are designed and crews are trained to fight them. The larger scandal was that the Bonhomme Richard was not ready to contain and defeat the blaze. Firefighting equipment problems, poor training, unclear command relationships, disabled systems, improper material storage, and maintenance-period confusion all helped turn a fire into a catastrophe.

Why Did the Fire Spread So Badly?

The USS Bonhomme Richard fire did not become infamous merely because it started. It became infamous because it spread so far, burned so long, and destroyed a ship that should have been savable. The Navy’s own reviews found a long chain of failures.

Firefighting systems were not fully available

During maintenance, onboard fire-suppression systems can be disabled or limited because crews and contractors are working on the ship. That is not automatically reckless; maintenance often requires temporary changes. The problem is that when systems are down, replacement procedures must be sharp, practiced, and understood. On Bonhomme Richard, they were not sharp enough.

Combustible materials were poorly controlled

Maintenance periods generate clutter: boxes, rags, cables, temporary gear, tools, packaging, cleaning supplies, and materials waiting for installation or removal. On land, that might be annoying. On a ship, it can be fuel. The lower vehicle storage area contained materials that helped the fire intensify.

Training and readiness were deficient

The Navy’s investigations criticized the crew’s preparedness and the broader oversight system. Some personnel were unsure how to respond. Some equipment was missing, broken, or not ready. Communication between shipboard teams, base firefighters, nearby ships, and commanders was not effective enough. In a fire, confusion is oxygen with a name tag.

The ship’s maintenance condition made everything harder

Ships undergoing major work are physically awkward. Hatches may be open. Temporary lines may block closures. Normal routes may be unavailable. Spaces may be unfamiliar even to experienced sailors. Fighting a fire in that environment is like trying to solve a puzzle while wearing heavy gear, breathing through a mask, and standing inside an oven.

How Much Damage Did the Fire Cause?

The damage was devastating. Fire and water damaged most of the ship’s decks. The intense heat warped sections of the flight deck and damaged the island structure. Electrical, mechanical, and structural systems were compromised. The ship had been receiving modernization work intended to support future missions, including upgrades connected to operating newer aircraft, but the fire erased that investment in a matter of days.

The Navy later concluded that restoring the ship could cost more than $3 billion and take five to seven years. Converting it to another use, such as a hospital ship or support vessel, was also judged too expensive. The Navy chose to decommission and scrap the ship. Bonhomme Richard was formally decommissioned in April 2021.

That decision stung. This was not an old rust bucket being politely shown the door. It was a major amphibious assault ship, and replacing that capability is not like ordering a new office chair. The loss affected Navy readiness, Marine Corps amphibious capability, budgets, shipyard planning, and public confidence.

Who Was Blamed for the Fire?

The public often wants one name. Disasters rarely cooperate. Ryan Sawyer Mays was charged, tried, and acquitted. Beyond the criminal case, the Navy took accountability actions against numerous personnel for leadership, training, readiness, and oversight failures connected to the fire response and the conditions aboard the ship.

Senior leaders also faced criticism. The Navy’s accountability process included actions against officers and enlisted leaders, and a retired vice admiral received a Secretarial Letter of Censure. These actions reflected the Navy’s conclusion that the loss of the ship was not merely a matter of ignition. It was a failure of preparation and command oversight.

This is one reason the Bonhomme Richard fire remains such a powerful case study. If a match starts a fire, the match matters. But if the fire escapes because alarms, hoses, training, storage, watchstanding, and command relationships all fail at once, the match is only part of the story.

What Did the Navy Learn?

After the fire, Navy and government reviews focused on fire prevention during maintenance, better data collection, clearer accountability, improved training, and stronger oversight. The Government Accountability Office later reported that Navy ship fires during maintenance had caused billions of dollars in damage over a span of years and urged stronger systems for learning from incidents.

The lessons are not glamorous. Nobody makes recruiting posters that say, “Join the Navy and label combustible material correctly.” But these are the details that keep ships alive. Fire safety is not paperwork for bored people with clipboards. It is combat readiness wearing a safety vest.

For sailors, shipyard workers, and leaders, the message was simple: maintenance does not reduce danger; it changes the type of danger. A ship in port may feel safe, but maintenance can make it more vulnerable to fire than it would be at sea. That is why drills, inspections, material control, working equipment, and clear chains of command matter.

Common Myths About the USS Bonhomme Richard Fire

Myth 1: “The sailor charged definitely did it.”

No. Ryan Sawyer Mays was acquitted. It is inaccurate and unfair to call him the person who started the fire. Prosecutors made allegations; the court did not find him guilty.

Myth 2: “The fire destroyed the ship instantly.”

No. The fire burned for days. What doomed the ship was the inability to control the blaze before it spread through multiple decks and caused overwhelming structural and system damage.

Myth 3: “It was just bad luck.”

Bad luck may visit, but it usually does not bring a clipboard full of safety failures. Navy investigations found preventable problems in readiness, storage, training, communication, and oversight.

Myth 4: “Ships in port are safe from major disasters.”

Ships in port face different risks. Maintenance can disable systems, create temporary hazards, and scatter responsibility among crews, contractors, base personnel, and outside responders. In short, the ocean is not the only thing trying to ruin your day.

Experiences and Real-World Lessons from the USS Bonhomme Richard Fire

The USS Bonhomme Richard fire offers lessons that go far beyond one ship, one Navy base, or one court case. Anyone who has worked around complex machinery, construction projects, aviation maintenance, industrial plants, or even large event operations can recognize the pattern. Big disasters often begin as small problems that everyone assumes someone else has handled.

Imagine walking through a worksite where a few boxes are stacked near a doorway, a tool cart blocks part of an access route, a temporary cable keeps a door from closing, and a fire extinguisher is technically nearby but not exactly where the plan says it should be. None of those details feels dramatic. No one hears scary music. Nobody says, “This is the opening scene of an investigation report.” Yet when smoke appears, those small details suddenly become the main characters.

That is the uncomfortable lesson of the Bonhomme Richard fire. Safety is not one heroic moment. It is a thousand boring habits performed correctly before anything goes wrong. The person who clears rags from a storage area, checks a hose connection, reports a broken fitting, or insists on a real fire drill may never become famous. But that person may prevent the kind of chain reaction that destroys a billion-dollar asset.

Another experience-related lesson is the danger of “normalization.” In any workplace, people slowly become used to conditions that should bother them. A blocked hatch becomes “just how it is during maintenance.” Missing equipment becomes “we already told someone.” A confusing plan becomes “we’ll figure it out if something happens.” Then something happens, and the bill comes due with interest.

The fire also shows why leadership matters most before the emergency. During a crisis, leaders can inspire courage, but they cannot magically create months of missing training. They cannot instantly make unfamiliar teams communicate smoothly. They cannot wish broken systems back into service. Emergency performance is usually a receipt for preparation already purchased.

For ordinary readers, the story is still relevant. Homes, offices, workshops, restaurants, warehouses, and schools all rely on the same basic safety truths. Keep exits clear. Store flammable materials properly. Take alarms seriously. Know who is responsible for what. Practice emergency plans before the room fills with smoke. The Bonhomme Richard was a warship, but the lesson is surprisingly domestic: clutter plus confusion plus delay is a terrible recipe.

Perhaps the most human lesson is that disasters leave complicated legacies. Sailors and civilian firefighters fought hard to save the ship. Many acted with courage in miserable conditions. At the same time, investigations found serious failures. Both can be true. People can be brave inside a broken system. In fact, they often are.

That is why the USS Bonhomme Richard fire should be remembered carefully. It was not only a mystery about arson. It was a warning about maintenance risk, leadership, accountability, and the cost of small failures ignored for too long. The ship’s motto was “I have not yet begun to fight.” Tragically, the ship’s final fight was not against an enemy fleet, but against fire, smoke, heat, and preventable disorder.

Conclusion: So, What Started It, and Was It Arson?

The USS Bonhomme Richard fire started in the lower vehicle storage area on July 12, 2020, while the ship was undergoing maintenance at Naval Base San Diego. The Navy’s administrative investigation described the ignition as arson, but the criminal case against Ryan Sawyer Mays ended in acquittal. Therefore, the most responsible answer is this: the Navy treated the fire as arson, but no one has been publicly convicted of starting it.

What is beyond dispute is that the ship was lost because the fire was not contained. Poor material storage, maintenance-period vulnerabilities, disabled or unavailable systems, training gaps, equipment problems, and command failures all contributed to the disaster. The result was the loss of a major Navy warship, billions in potential replacement and readiness costs, and one of the most painful fire-safety lessons in modern U.S. naval history.

If the USS Bonhomme Richard fire teaches anything, it is that disasters rarely need one giant mistake. A dozen small ones will do just fine if nobody stops them in time.

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Note: This article is based on publicly available information from U.S. Navy releases, Navy safety reviews, government oversight reports, and reputable American news coverage. It is written for educational and informational publication purposes and should not be read as a legal finding against any individual.