Navy Captain Fired Over Blaze on Nuclear Ship

Top officers allowed practices that led to $70M in damage

By Katherine Thompson

Posted Jul 31, 2008 11:03 AM CDT

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Navy Captain Fired Over Blaze on Nuclear Ship — Crew members aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington battle a fire that started while the ship was in the Pacific Ocean enroute from Chile to San Diego, on May 22, 2008. (AP Photo/U.S. Navy Visual News Service)

The Navy has canned the captain and executive officer of the USS George Washington after investigations indicated that the destructive fire that broke out onboard this pring may have resulted from breaches in protocol. Flammable liquids were found in unsuitable storage areas, and crewmembers were allowed to smoke nearby. About $70 million in damage was done to the nuclear aircraft carrier.

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