A fire that broke out on a US Navy warship off the southern coast of Japan was finally extinguished early Thursday August 21, 2025 after burning for about 12 hours, the US military confirmed.
The blaze started on the USS New Orleans, an amphibious transport dock ship, while it was anchored near White Beach Naval Facility in Okinawa on Wednesday evening. Two American sailors sustained minor injuries and received treatment, according to the US 7th Fleet.
“The cause of the fire is under investigation, and the crew will remain aboard the ship,” the fleet said in a statement.
The USS New Orleans is a 208-meter-long vessel weighing 24,433 tons. It is part of the US Navy fleet stationed in the Pacific region. The United States maintains around 54,000 military personnel in Japan, with the majority based in Okinawa.
Japan’s Coast Guard said the US initially requested assistance to fight the fire, later withdrew the request, and then renewed it around 7:30 p.m. local time (1030 GMT). Four Japanese vessels from the Coast Guard, the navy, and private contractors worked through the night to help extinguish the flames.
The fire was successfully put out after hours of joint efforts. No major damage to surrounding areas was reported.
The incident comes amid heightened attention on naval safety and security in the Pacific region, where both Japan and the US have significant military operations.
