Navy charges sailor with setting worst U.S. warship fire outside of combat

SAN DIEGO, California — The U.S. Navy said Thursday that charges have been filed against a sailor who is accused of starting a fire last year that destroyed a warship docked off San Diego.

The amphibious assault ship called the USS Bonhomme Richard burned for more than four days and was the Navy’s worst U.S. warship fire outside of combat in recent memory.

The ship was left with extensive structural, electrical and mechanical damage and was later scrapped.

The sailor was a member of the crew at the time.