Fire broke out Saturday in an engine room aboard a Navy destroyer, killing two people and injuring four, the Navy said.
The fire broke out about 8 a.m. in the forward engine room of the USS Dahlgren. It was extinguished within 20 minutes, said Jim Brantley, a spokesman for the Norfolk-based Atlantic Fleet.Fireman Sean Allen Bible, 23, of Indianapolis and Machinist Mate 3rd Class Christopher James Woodmansee, 22, of Downey, Calif., were killed, said Navy spokesman Cmdr. Ryland Dodge. None of the four injured sailors were hurt seriously, the Navy said.
The fire occurred as the Dahlgren conducted routine operations about 240 miles off the North Carolina coast, Brantley said. After the fire, the 31-year-old ship steamed toward Norfolk under its own power, he said.
The ship was expected to arrive in port at midday Sunday, said Archie Galloway, spokesman for the Naval Surface Force in Norfolk.
The cause of the fire hadn't been determined.
The Norfolk-based guided missile destroyer carries 400 officers and crew, Brantley said.