Navy Worker Set $400 Million Fire To Get Out Of Work

A civilian contractor working for the U.S. Navy set a $400 million fire to a nuclear-powered submarine because he wanted to get out of work early.

According to investigators Casey James Fury, 24, was taking medications for anxiety and depression at the time of the fire and was feeling anxious which led for his need to leave work early. Investigators claim in a seven-page affidavit that the fire on the ships dry dock on May 23 was intentional. Casey also set a blaze outside the sub on June 16.

A detention and probable cause hearing has been set for next month and the U.S. attorney’s office has filed a motion asking that Fury be denied bail.

The Navy submarine fires occurred on the dry dock at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine. The fires damaged the torpedo room and command area inside the submarines forward compartment and took more than 12 hours to fight.

The second fire on June 16 caused no damage.

Fury, a painter and sandblaster had initially denied setting the fire but he eventually admitted to the May 23 fire while taking a lie detector test and learning from the examiner that he was failing to tell the truth.

The fire was started by lighting some rags on a top bunk bed on fire. The Navy originally thought an industrial vacuum cleaner had sucked up a heat source and ignited from the inside.

The obviously unhinged Fury said the second fire was started because he was having a text-messaging fight with his ex-girlfriend about the new guy she was seeing. To start the second fire Fury lit alcohol wipes on fire outside of the submarine.

On June 21 Fury checked himself into a mental health facility but checked out just two days later.