Blaze on US Carrier Gerald R. Ford Displaces Hundreds of Sailors
The blaze, which erupted last week, took more than 30 hours to extinguish, military officials said. Dozens of sailors suffered smoke inhalation, and two were treated for “non-life-threatening” injuries. Because the fire started in the main laundry area, crew members currently have no access to clean clothing. Many are sleeping on floors and tables while repairs continue.
The carrier, which houses roughly 4,500 sailors and fighter pilots, was initially ordered from the Mediterranean to the Caribbean on Oct. 24 last year as part of a US military buildup aimed at increasing pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro before his capture in early January.
It later deployed to the Middle East to participate in the ongoing US-Israeli conflict with Iran, now in its third week.
Crew members are entering the 10th month of deployment, and with the mission expected to extend into May, the vessel is on track to break the record for the longest US carrier deployment since the Vietnam War. The current record of 294 days at sea, set by the USS Abraham Lincoln in 2020, could soon be surpassed.
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