Fire Aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Injures Three Sailors During Shipyard Maintenance

A small fire aboard the US Navy aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower injured three sailors while the vessel was undergoing maintenance at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, the US Navy confirmed.

The incident occurred on 14 April when the fire broke out on board the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier during its scheduled maintenance period.

According to the Navy, the fire was quickly contained and extinguished by the ship’s crew along with shipyard personnel.

Three sailors were injured in the incident. They were treated by the ship’s medical team and later returned to full duty. Officials did not share details about where the fire started or what caused it. The cause is still under investigation.

The carrier, one of the US Navy’s oldest active aircraft carriers, has been undergoing a Planned Incremental Availability (PIA) since January 2025.

The maintenance programme includes extensive repairs and upgrades to the vessel’s nuclear propulsion systems, combat systems, crew living spaces and aviation support capabilities.

A Navy spokesperson stated that the incident is not expected to impact the vessel’s maintenance timeline. Officials indicated the ship remains on track to return to operational service later this year.

The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower has been docked at the Virginia-based naval shipyard for over a year following its last deployment between 2023 and 2024.

During that period, the carrier operated in the US 5th Fleet area, including missions in the Middle East, where it supported operations against threats such as drones and missiles.

The latest incident adds to a series of fires reported on US Navy vessels in recent years, particularly during maintenance periods.

In 2020, a major fire aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard led to the ship being scrapped. Another fire was reported on the USS George Washington while it was in port for maintenance. Smaller fires have also occurred on ships like USS Milwaukee and USS Fitzgerald.

More recently, a fire was reported on the USS Gerald R. Ford, the Navy’s newest aircraft carrier, which resulted in injuries to two sailors and temporary disruption to operations.

Naval authorities have consistently identified onboard fires as a major risk to warships, particularly during repair periods when systems may be offline and work involving electrical equipment is ongoing.

The US Navy has introduced stricter fire safety protocols and enhanced damage control training following previous incidents.

Investigations into the cause of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower fire are ongoing.

References: foxnews, timesnownews