I served as a BT from 1965-1967 on the Kitty Hawk. I remember the fire being in #3MMR. It was payday and we had holiday routine. This is what saved many lives, along with the good work of Damage Control. I got my pay and went to my rack {GQ GQ ALL MEN MAN YOUR BATTLE STATIONS). I remember seeing the black smoke coming from #3 as I ran past it to my GQ station in #2 AUX.

Gary, you are correct. It was Number #3 Main Machinery room. I don't remember it being holiday routine though. I do remember Captain Carmody (who was in Bay 2) talking to another officer. He turned and his face went white as a sheet. I looked back where he was looking and saw a massive amount of black smoke pouring up from below decks. We were taking aboard ammo and fuel from the USS Sacramento and there were bombs all over the hanger deck. About that time, GQ sounded and lines were cut from the Sacramento. It was very nerve-wracking for a while. We could have had a catastrophe.