Fire aboard Navy destroyer USS Higgins, officials say [View all]

Source: CBS News

Updated on: April 30, 2026 / 8:59 PM EDT / CBS News


Washington — A fire broke out Tuesday on the USS Higgins, a guided-missile destroyer and a mainstay of the Navy's forward presence in Asia, according to U.S. officials. The fire knocked out electricity and propulsion on the destroyer, one of the officials told CBS News, speaking under condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to speak publicly.

It was contained to one piece of equipment, and the flames didn't spread. No injuries to U.S. service members had been reported as of Wednesday. Details of how the fire started and the exact location of the Higgins in the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) were not readily available. Details regarding what sections of the ship were damaged and how long it will take to repair were also not available. The Higgins was ported in Singapore as of February, according to AIS Marine vessel data.

A defense department official said in a statement: "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.". The U.S. Navy classified it as an "electrical casualty," which means it wasn't a large fire but a short circuit in one the ship's generators.

Earlier this month, a small fire broke out on the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, injuring eight U.S. Navy sailors, the U.S. Naval Institute reported. Separately, a fire broke out in the laundry spaces aboard the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, injuring two sailors.

Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/uss-higgins-navy-destroyer-fire-singapore/