Overview
- U.S. Naval Forces Central Command said the March 12 blaze started in the carrier’s main laundry spaces and was not combat-related.
- Two sailors sustained non-life-threatening injuries and are in stable condition after receiving medical treatment aboard.
- The Navy reported no damage to the propulsion plant and confirmed the ship remains fully mission capable.
- Officials and reporting indicate the initial fire was extinguished as damage-control efforts continued, and NAVSEA’s Forward Deployed Regional Maintenance Center prepared electrical support.
- The Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group is operating in the Red Sea in support of Operation Epic Fury during an extended deployment that began in June 2025, which could set a post-Vietnam-era length record if it continues into mid-April.