Fire on USS Gerald R Ford; US Navy says carrier still ‘fully operational’ amid escalating Iran war

Washington: A fire broke out aboard the US Navy’s aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN‑78) while it was operating in the Red Sea as part of American military operations linked to the ongoing war involving Iran.

Confirming the incident, United States Naval Forces Central Command said the blaze originated in the ship’s laundry section but was quickly brought under control and did not affect the carrier’s operational capability.

“On March 12, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) experienced a fire that originated in the ship’s main laundry spaces. The cause of the fire was not combat-related and is contained. There is no damage to the ship’s propulsion plant, and the aircraft carrier remains fully operational. Two Sailors are currently receiving medical treatment for non-life-threatening injuries and are in stable condition. Additional information will be provided when available. The Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group is currently operating in the Red Sea in support of Operation Epic Fury,” wrote U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/U.S. 5th Fleet on X.

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The USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN‑78) had recently moved from the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea, passing through the Suez Canal last week, according to images released by the Pentagon.

The carrier was originally deployed from the Caribbean in mid-February and had been operating in the eastern Mediterranean during the early days of the war involving Iran. At least one destroyer accompanying the carrier strike group also transited the canal, according to the images.

The deployment comes amid escalating tensions in the Middle East following the February 28 strikes in which the United States and Israel killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, triggering a wider regional conflict.

Iran has since intensified attacks on shipping routes and energy infrastructure in the Persian Gulf, pushing global oil prices back above $100 per barrel.

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Meanwhile, the United Nations humanitarian chief warned that the widening conflict could divert urgently needed aid from other global crises.

The war has also led to a growing humanitarian emergency. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, up to 3.2 million people in Iran have been displaced, many fleeing from Tehran and other major cities to northern regions or rural areas. In neighbouring Lebanon, at least 759,000 people have been internally displaced.

Iran’s president said Thursday that attacks would continue until Tehran receives security guarantees against further assaults, signalling that even a ceasefire may not immediately end the conflict.

US President Donald Trump, however, has vowed to “finish the job,” while also claiming that Iran is “virtually destroyed.”