After "Maine" and "Missouri" entered service, they were assigned to the North Atlantic Fleet, while "Ohio", built on the West Coast of the United States, was instead sent to serve as the flagship of the Asiatic Fleet based in the Philippines. In April 1904, a turret fire killed 36 men aboard "Missouri", but the quick action of three men prevented the fire from reaching the magazines and destroying the ship, for which they were awarded the Medal of Honor. In 1907, "Ohio" returned from the western Pacific and joined her sisters in what was now the Atlantic Fleet. During this period, "Maine" served as the flagship of the Atlantic Fleet until she was relieved in April 1907.