USA: Suspect Charged in Connection with Submarine Fire

The Naval Criminal Investigative Service has made an arrest in connection with a $400 million dollar fire on board USS Miami May 23 and other incidents at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine.

Casey James Fury, a 24-year-old civilian worker at the Shipyard, is charged with arson. He was taken into custody by NCIS July 20 and had a first appearance hearing before a federal magistrate in Portland, Maine July 23.

Information gathered by NCIS indicates that Fury is responsible for the fire on board USS Miami. Additionally he is charged with setting a second minor fire in the Shipyard’s Dry Dock #2 area June 16.

The criminal complaint accuses Fury of two counts of Title 18, United States Code, Section 81 (Arson) “within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States, willfully and maliciously set fire to and burned a vessel, namely the USS Miami, together with building materials and supplies located thereon.” The second count will be specific to burned building materials and supplies located in and around USS Miami.

A criminal investigation headed by NCIS began soon after the fire was reported May 23 and is ongoing. Other law enforcement agencies including ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives) are assisting in this investigation.

The Navy has begun planning repairs with the goal of returning USS Miami to the fleet.

Details of how the fire on board USS Miami was started and other matters of evidence are not being released.

Any further comment about the arrest or prosecution will be made by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Portland, Maine.

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Naval Today Staff, July 24, 2012; Image: US Navy