I’d have to agree… Most people think that flooding would be the hardest casualty to fight, but that’s a fairly straightforward process. With a fire, especially one that involves oil (like propulsion lube oil), the smoke is dense, black and it’s nearly impossible to see. That’s why we often hang blankets in the “area of the fire” during drills.
After I was qualified on the boat, I could move around the entire forward half of the ship by feel alone. There are bits of non-skid on the deck where ports for Emergency Air Breathing (EAB) masks are located, which is essential if you want to keep breathing.
