11 sailors suffered minor injuries in fire on USS Iwo Jima

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The U.S. Navy says 11 sailors suffered minor injuries when fire broke out Friday on the USS Iwo Jima, now docked at the Naval Station Mayport near Jacksonville.

In a news release, the Navy said sailors on the amphibious assault ship reported smoke early Friday in a cargo hold. The Naval Station’s fire department responded, joined by crews from the Jacksonville Fire Department.

The injured sailors were treated at the scene and released. Capt. Darrell Canady, the ship’s commanding officer, said the sailors are “rigorously trained to combat casualties such as this fire.”

The ship is undergoing maintenance at the base.

The Navy will investigate the cause of the fire and determine the amount of damage on board. The release says there was on damage to other ships.