USA’s USS Gerald R. Ford Fire Rages Over 30 Hours

A severe fire aboard the United States Navy’s largest and most advanced aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford, raged for more than 30 hours last week, displacing hundreds of sailors and severely disrupting onboard living conditions, according to reports from The New York Times and military sources.

The blaze reportedly ignited on 12 March 2026 in the ship’s main laundry facility, likely originating within a dryer vent area, before spreading to adjacent berthing compartments. Despite the crew’s sustained firefighting efforts, the fire persisted for over a full day — an unusually long duration for an onboard incident of this type.

While U.S. Naval Forces Central Command confirmed the fire was non-combat related and assured that the carrier remains fully operational, the human cost has been considerable. Two sailors required treatment for non-life-threatening injuries, while dozens suffered from smoke inhalation amid the prolonged blaze.

Crew Impact and Living Conditions

The fire has rendered the regular sleeping quarters of approximately 600 crew members — out of the roughly 4,500 onboard — unusable. Many are now forced to sleep on tables, deck spaces, and other temporary areas throughout the ship. This displacement has exacerbated ongoing morale and habitability challenges, which have been a persistent concern for the Ford-class vessel.

The destruction of the main laundry facility has compounded the situation, leaving sailors unable to maintain basic hygiene during an extended deployment. Naval sources have highlighted that improvised arrangements for laundry and sleeping are currently in place, but conditions remain far from normal.

The known impact of the fire is summarised in the table below:

Extended Deployment and Pre-Existing Challenges

The fire occurred amid an exceptionally long deployment. Gerald R. Ford has been at sea for approximately 10 months, operating from the Mediterranean to the Caribbean and into the Red Sea and Persian Gulf as part of broader U.S. military operations in the Middle East. If the ship remains at sea through mid-April, this deployment will become the longest undertaken by a U.S. aircraft carrier since the Vietnam War.

The vessel has also faced recurring technical issues, including malfunctions in its plumbing and sewage systems, which have required external assistance during the deployment. The Navy has not indicated when Gerald R. Ford will return to port for more extensive repairs, leaving the crew to endure challenging living conditions and operational strain amid continued high-tempo operations at sea.