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On 19 October 1979, Typhoon Tip, the strongest typhoon to hit mainland Japan in 13 years, brought 115 mph winds and a torrential downpour with it. More than 1,250 Marines of Battalion Landing Team 2/4 from Camp Schwab, Okinawa, and assigned here for training, were housed in
Quonset huts in upper Camp Fuji.
The fuel farm, which consisted of two rubber storage bladders secured by a retaining wall, was located up the hill above the
Quonset huts. The rains from Typhoon Tip eroded the wall and allowed a bladder to break free. Hoses were torn away from the bladder, releasing 5000 gallons of gasoline. Skimming the surface of the water, the gasoline ran across upper Camp Fuji into the
Quonset huts. Then, around 1340, one of the quonset hut heaters ignited the fuel.
Fire fighting vehicles from the airfield crash crew arrived on the scene within 10 minutes. Additional support arrived from Takigahara Garrison as well as the following City of Gotemba firefighting units: Platoons #2 and #6 from Inno Village, Platoon #3 from Tamaho Village, and the Gotemba-Oyama Fire Station. By 1545, the fire was under reasonable control, but could not be extinguished completely.
Casualties were evacuated to local hospitals in Gotemba, Naval Airfield Atsugi, Naval Operations Base Yokosuka, Yokota Air Base, and Brooks Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. Vehicles and ambulances from Fuji Schools and Takigahara Garrison supported this movement. Headquarters, 3rd Detachment of the USS White Plains, a combat stores ship, stationed at Naval Airfield Atsugi, provided airlift support for helicopter evacuation operations.
Despite the tremendous response of the local community and the military installations, 51 Marines and 3 Japanese nationals were injured, while fifteen
Quonset huts were destroyed and several other buildings were damaged. Of the 54 people injured, 13 Marines died.
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Fire Victims Cpl Colim Miller
LCpl Willie Davis, Jr.
LCpl Philip E. Dupont
LCpl Ernest E. Gutierrez
LCpl L. C. Malveaux
LCpl Orlando E. Sandoval
LCpl Robert V. Smith, Jr.
LCpl Stephen R. Turner
PFC Robert L. Brees
PFC Thomas J. Breunig
PFC Tyrone C. Elem
PFC Roger A. Larson
PVT Gregory L. Hassel
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