A fire broke out aboard the USS Higgins, a guided-missile destroyer stationed in the Indo-Pacific region, causing a loss of electrical power and propulsion, U.S. officials confirmed Wednesday. The fire, classified as an electrical casualty due to a short circuit in one of the ship’s generators, was quickly extinguished by the crew, and no injuries were reported.
The USS Higgins is homeported in Yokosuka, Japan, and is part of the U.S. Navy’s 7th Fleet, a critical force within the Indo-Pacific Command responsible for military operations across a vast area. As of February, the ship had been ported in Singapore, according to marine vessel tracking data.
A Department of Defense official stated, “An electrical fire occurred aboard the USS Higgins while at sea in the Indo-Pacific. The fire was immediately extinguished by the crew, and there are no reported injuries. The situation is under control, and the ship is currently underway. The cause is under investigation.” Details about the specific sections damaged or the duration of repairs have not been released.
The USS Higgins is named after Marine Colonel William Higgins, who was kidnapped and killed by Hezbollah-linked militants during a 1988 United Nations peacekeeping mission in Lebanon. The ship serves as a symbol of U.S. naval presence and commitment in the region.
Why it matters
The USS Higgins plays a vital role in maintaining U.S. naval readiness and deterrence in the Indo-Pacific amid rising regional tensions. The fire’s impact on the ship’s operational capabilities raises questions about maintenance and safety protocols aboard forward-deployed naval vessels. The fire follows recent incidents on other U.S. Navy ships, including small fires aboard the aircraft carriers USS Dwight D. Eisenhower and USS Gerald R. Ford, both of which resulted in injuries.
Sources
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