Fire Rages for Over 30 Hours on U.S. Aircraft Carrier

The USS Gerald R. Ford continues its extended deployment in the Middle East despite equipment issues and crew challenges.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 9:33pm

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A fire that started in the laundry area of the U.S. Navy's newest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, raged for over 30 hours last week, forcing more than 600 sailors and crew members to relocate from their damaged living quarters. The fire caused non-life-threatening injuries to two sailors and smoke inhalation issues for dozens more, while also leaving many without access to laundry facilities. The Ford is now in its 10th month of deployment, having been redirected from the Caribbean to the Middle East to support military operations, and is facing the prospect of an extended deployment that could last up to a year.

Why it matters

The extended deployment and equipment issues on the USS Ford highlight the strain on U.S. naval forces as they juggle multiple global commitments. The fire is the latest in a series of maintenance problems that have plagued the new carrier, raising questions about its readiness and the Navy's ability to sustain prolonged operations.

The details

The fire started in the ship's main laundry area last Thursday and took over 30 hours for sailors to extinguish. More than 600 sailors and crew members lost their beds and have been forced to bunk on floors and tables. Two sailors received treatment for non-life-threatening injuries, and dozens more suffered smoke inhalation. Many sailors have also been unable to do laundry since the fire.

  • The fire started on Thursday, March 13, 2026.
  • The USS Ford has been deployed for 10 months as of March 2026.
  • The Ford is approaching the record for longest post-Vietnam War carrier deployment, set at 294 days by the USS Abraham Lincoln in 2020.

The players

USS Gerald R. Ford

The U.S. Navy's newest aircraft carrier, which has faced a series of maintenance issues during its extended deployment.

Pete Hegseth

The U.S. Defense Secretary who ordered the USS Ford to steam from the Mediterranean to the Caribbean and then to the Middle East to support military operations.

Nicolás Maduro

The leader of Venezuela, whose regime the USS Ford was deployed to help pressure before the ship was redirected to the Middle East.

Rear Adm. John F. Kirby

A retired naval officer who served as Pentagon press secretary and a national security spokesman in the Biden administration, warning that extended carrier deployments can take a toll on both the ship and its crew.

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What they’re saying

“Ships get tired too, and they get beat up over the course of long deployments. You can't run a ship that long and that hard and expect her and her crew to perform at peak capacity.”

— Rear Adm. John F. Kirby, Retired naval officer

What’s next

The U.S.S. George H.W. Bush is preparing to deploy to the Middle East and will likely relieve the USS Ford, whose extended deployment is reaching the limits of its operational capacity.

The takeaway

The fire and maintenance issues on the USS Ford underscore the strain on U.S. naval forces as they juggle multiple global commitments, raising questions about the readiness and sustainability of prolonged carrier deployments.