A fire broke out on the largest warship in the United States. The fire burned for 30 hours before it was extinguished.
Three sailors aboard the Gerald R. Ford had to be treated and dozens suffered smoke inhalation.
According to the New York Times, more than 600 sailors and crew lost their bunks after a fire broke out in the laundry room. Some people have been sleeping on floors and tables for days.
It marks the second embarrassing incident for a U.S. aircraft carrier — the largest warship ever built — supporting U.S. forces in the Middle East during a war with Iran.
According to NPR, the warship’s toilets were poorly designed and frequently malfunctioned during the months at sea. An email from March 2025 stated that the system experienced 205 issues in just four days.
On Monday, military newspaper Stars and Stripes reported that a sailor had been flown from the Ford to receive medical treatment following the fire. Their condition is stable.
The investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing, but the Navy said it was not combat-related.
The Ford was dispatched from the Mediterranean to the Caribbean in October as part of Donald Trump’s armada amassed around Venezuela and has been at sea for about 10 months.
The troops were sent to the Middle East as tensions with Iran increased following the capture of former Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro by U.S. special forces in January.
The crew was reportedly told they would remain in place until May, meaning they spent about a year at sea, twice the length of a normal carrier deployment.
“Ships also get tired and suffer wear and tear over long deployments,” said Rear Adm. John F Kirby, a former Pentagon press secretary.
“You can’t run a ship that long and hard and expect her and her crew to perform at their highest capacity.”
“On March 12, a fire aboard the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) occurred in the ship’s main laundry room. The cause of the fire was not combat-related and was contained,” U.S. Naval Forces Central Command said in a statement.
“The ship’s propulsion plant was not damaged and the aircraft carrier remains fully operational.
“Both sailors are currently receiving treatment for non-life-threatening injuries and are in stable condition. We will provide more information as it becomes available.”
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