Fire Aboard USS Gerald R. Ford Rages Over 30 Hours, Displaces 600+ Sailors

A major fire broke out last week in the main laundry area of the U.S. Navy’s flagship aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), burning for more than 30 hours and forcing over 600 sailors and crew members to sleep on floors and tables after smoke and flames damaged multiple berthing compartments.

The blaze, which began in a dryer vent in the ship’s laundry facilities on Thursday, March 12, spread through ventilation systems, affecting living quarters and leaving dozens of personnel suffering from smoke inhalation. Two sailors received treatment for non-life-threatening injuries and remain in stable condition, with a third sailor later evacuated for related issues, according to updates from U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and reports in The New York Times.

Initial statements from U.S. Central Command described the incident as non-combat-related and contained, with no damage to the carrier’s propulsion systems or overall operational capability. The ship, currently in its tenth month of an extended deployment in the Red Sea and surrounding waters amid regional tensions, continues to support missions and launch aircraft sorties.

Sailors described the firefighting effort as prolonged and intense, highlighting the challenges of managing such an incident on a vessel as complex as the Ford-class supercarrier. Many crew members have been unable to access laundry facilities since the fire, adding to daily hardships during the long deployment.

The USS Gerald R. Ford, the Navy’s newest and most advanced nuclear-powered carrier, remains fully mission-capable despite the setback, officials emphasized. The incident has drawn attention to crew living conditions and the demands of sustained high-tempo operations in a volatile region.