Fire aboard Navy destroyer USS Higgins, officials say

A significant fire erupted on the USS Higgins, a guided-missile destroyer crucial to the U.S. Navy’s presence in Asia, disabling its electricity and propulsion systems. No injuries were reported among U.S. service members, but details about the fire’s cause, the ship’s exact location, and the extent of the damage remain unclear. The Higgins, stationed in Yokosuka, Japan, is part of the 7th Fleet under the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, which manages military operations over a vast region. The ship is named after Marine Col. William Higgins, who was kidnapped and killed in Lebanon in 1988. This incident follows recent fires on other Navy vessels, including the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower and USS Gerald R. Ford, which resulted in injuries. The USS Gerald R. Ford is set to leave the Middle East soon. QUESTION: How might the recent fires on U.S. Navy ships impact the Navy’s operational readiness and strategic presence in key regions?