5 hospitalized after fire aboard Mayport destroyer

Five people were taken to the hospital early Monday after a fire erupted on board the USS Winston S. Churchill as it sat at dock at Naval Station Mayport, according to base officials.

The fire was reported just before 10:45 a.m. on the 9,500-ton, 509-foot-long, Aegis-equipped Arleigh Burke-Class destroyer, base officials reported in an email.

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“Ship’s crew extinguished the fire and de-smoked the affected spaces,” the brief statement read. “Five personnel were transported to the hospital for medical evaluation. The Navy is investigating the cause of the fire and determining the extent of the damage.”

Built by Bath Iron Works in Maine, the ship was launched in 1999 and home-based at Mayport just over two years ago.

The Churchill’s new commanding officer, Capt. Ryan O’Loughlin, assumed command from Cmdr. Brian Anthony on July 28, the Navy said.