Navy will decommission, scrap USS Bonhomme Richard, the warship that burned for days off San Diego this summer

The U.S. Navy on Monday announced it will decommission the USS Bonhomme Richard, the warship that caught fire and burned for days this summer at Naval Base San Diego.

The Navy cited extensive damage that would cost over $3 billion, including structural, electrical and mechanical repairs that would take five to seven years.

The 22-year-old ship burst into flames on July 12 and smoldered for more than four days off San Diego. More than 60 firefighters suffered from heat exhaustion and smoke inhalation. The cause of the fire remains unknown, according to the Navy.

“We did not come to this decision lightly,” Navy Secretary Kenneth J. Braithwaite said in a news release. “Following an extensive material assessment in which various courses of action were considered and evaluated, we came to the conclusion that it is not fiscally responsible to restore her."

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Officials said rebuilding the 840-foot vessel for other uses, like a hospital ship, would also be too costly at more than $1 billion.

Rear Adm. Eric H. Ver Hage of the Navy Regional Maintenance Center told reporters decommissioning the ship will take nine months to a year and cost $30 million.

About 160 sailors and officers were on board when the amphibious assault vessel went up in flames. Navy, federal and local firefighters worked to contain the 1,000-degree blaze.

Contributing: Elinor Aspegren and Tom Vanden Brook, USA TODAY; The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Navy announces USS Bonhomme Richard, ravaged by fire, will be scrapped