Pilots are still supposed to look out for their squadron mates.
Prior to the Forrestal fire only fire crews were trained in fire suppression and no one else was allowed to get involved in it. This incident was the instigation to change all of that and train everyone in fire suppression.
As for McCain he jumped out of his plane surrounded by fire and barely escaped it. He was probably ordered to sick bay immediately.
“Pilots are still supposed to look out for their squadron mates.”
McCain was trying to aid a pilot who was on fire when a bomb that was cooking in the jet fuel fire exploded. This was less than two minutes from when the Zuni rocket set the whole disaster in motion. Two other bombs when off 10 seconds later. A fourth went off a few seconds after that. There’s plenty to fault McCain for, the Forrestal fire isn’t part of it.