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USS Gerald R. Ford Catches Fire, Displaces 600 Sailors

3/19/2026

46 11 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

The U.S. Navy's USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) caught fire in its laundry area on March 12, displacing more than 600 sailors.
The fire required more than 30 hours to extinguish.
Three sailors sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
The Navy confirmed the fire was not combat-related and did not damage the propulsion system, and the carrier remains on its Red Sea deployment under Operation Epic Fury and may undergo repairs in Crete.

History

Historical Context

The USS Forrestal fire on July 29, 1967, during the Vietnam War, resulted from a misfired Zuni rocket, killing 134 sailors and injuring 161. This tragedy prompted the U.S. Navy to overhaul its firefighting protocols, including establishing the Farrier Firefighting School and implementing new safety measures. The recent fire on the USS Gerald R. Ford highlights ongoing safety challenges aboard aircraft carriers.

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Story summary

The U.S. Navy's USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) caught fire in its laundry area on March 12, displacing more than 600 sailors.
The fire required more than 30 hours to extinguish.
Three sailors sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
The Navy confirmed the fire was not combat-related and did not damage the propulsion system, and the carrier remains on its Red Sea deployment under Operation Epic Fury and may undergo repairs in Crete.

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