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7 July 2023
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Two fire fighters killed, five others injured after massive cargo ship fire at Port Newark, US
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Two fire fighters died during an effort to extinguish a fire that broke out Wednesday night, 5 July 2023, aboard a massive container ship docked at Port Newark in New Jersey in the US, the city's fire chief said. Fire fighters from Newark were dispatched to the docked vessel around 21h30 for a report of multiple vehicles on fire on board one of the cargo ships at the port, Newark public safety director Fritz Fragé said.
The vessel was completing cargo operations of loading automobiles on to the vessel when the fire began. The crew of the vessel immediately activated the on- board fire suppression procedures while the local fire department was alerted. The vessel is reportedly carrying 1 200 vehicles and 157 containers that were scheduled to be exported. There are reportedly no electric vehicles or hazardous cargo aboard.
Officials identified the fire fighters lost as Augusto Acabou, aged 45, from Engine 16 and Wayne Brooks Jr, aged 49, from Ladder 4, both in the East Ward of Newark. Five other fire fighters, including three from Newark, sustained injuries ranging from smoke inhalation to burns.
According to Newark Fire Chief Rufus Jackson, the fire was found on the 10th floor of the ship where five or seven vehicles were fully engulfed. It quickly extended to the 11th and 12th floors.
Fire fighters initially made an attempt to extinguish the fire but because of the intense heat, they were pushed back out of the area. It was at this time that two fire fighters became lost while backing out, Chief Rufus said.
Searches were subsequently made to find the two fire fighters but the rest of the unit were unable to do so.
The US Coast Guard, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Newark Fire Department and Gallagher Marine Systems, the representative for the ship operator, established a Unified Command in Port Newark, supported by a host of federal, state and local emergency response agencies. The Unified Command was established to continue its response to the fire aboard the cargo vessel Grande Costa D’Avorio. The Unified Command’s operational priorities were ensuring the safety of the public and first responders, conducting fire suppression, protecting the environment and ensuring any economic or operational activities in the port area are minimally affected.
The fire became so intense that numerous rescue companies were called to assist, Chief Rufus said, adding that several specialised rescue companies throughout New Jersey and the state of New York came and assisted with primary and secondary searches to try to locate the unaccounted for fire fighters, which were eventually found and removed from the structure.
"Unfortunately, we lost two members today," Chief Rufus said. "This was a tragedy and my heart goes out to the families of each of these members and the Newark Fire Department."
The fire was visible from some distance away as smoke billowed up from the ship that has the capacity to hold around 5 000 cars. Flames and thick black smoke could still be seen on the top deck billowing out of the massive structure as efforts were still underway around 6h30am on Thursday to put out hotspots.
Mayor of the City of Newark, Ras Baraka, said, "A tragedy for us in the city of Newark and all the fire fighters who know what it means to go into a burning structure and the danger you’re going to have to experience. Our prayers go out to them to their families to their brothers and sisters in the fire department who fought beside them tonight and probably many fires before this one."
Mayor Baraka went on to highlight what he called the "many acts of bravery" witnessed during the fatal fire, calling the overall scenario ‘very traumatic’. "I saw many acts of bravery and camaraderie today that’s unparalleled. It’s very, very traumatic for all of us in Newark and we ask everybody to pray for the city of Newark, pray for the fire fighters here, pray for the families that have lost a loved one, loved ones in this struggle," he said.
Mayor Baraka said he witnessed fire fighters coming out of the fire, suffering from the effects of the smoke and heat (both from the fire and from the outside weather), taking off their gear, only to form a line to get back into the ship to continue to put out the fire.
Sources: NBC New York, Mid Jersey News
The vessel was completing cargo operations of loading automobiles on to the vessel when the fire began. The crew of the vessel immediately activated the on- board fire suppression procedures while the local fire department was alerted. The vessel is reportedly carrying 1 200 vehicles and 157 containers that were scheduled to be exported. There are reportedly no electric vehicles or hazardous cargo aboard.
Officials identified the fire fighters lost as Augusto Acabou, aged 45, from Engine 16 and Wayne Brooks Jr, aged 49, from Ladder 4, both in the East Ward of Newark. Five other fire fighters, including three from Newark, sustained injuries ranging from smoke inhalation to burns.
According to Newark Fire Chief Rufus Jackson, the fire was found on the 10th floor of the ship where five or seven vehicles were fully engulfed. It quickly extended to the 11th and 12th floors.
Fire fighters initially made an attempt to extinguish the fire but because of the intense heat, they were pushed back out of the area. It was at this time that two fire fighters became lost while backing out, Chief Rufus said.
Searches were subsequently made to find the two fire fighters but the rest of the unit were unable to do so.
The US Coast Guard, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Newark Fire Department and Gallagher Marine Systems, the representative for the ship operator, established a Unified Command in Port Newark, supported by a host of federal, state and local emergency response agencies. The Unified Command was established to continue its response to the fire aboard the cargo vessel Grande Costa D’Avorio. The Unified Command’s operational priorities were ensuring the safety of the public and first responders, conducting fire suppression, protecting the environment and ensuring any economic or operational activities in the port area are minimally affected.
The fire became so intense that numerous rescue companies were called to assist, Chief Rufus said, adding that several specialised rescue companies throughout New Jersey and the state of New York came and assisted with primary and secondary searches to try to locate the unaccounted for fire fighters, which were eventually found and removed from the structure.
"Unfortunately, we lost two members today," Chief Rufus said. "This was a tragedy and my heart goes out to the families of each of these members and the Newark Fire Department."
The fire was visible from some distance away as smoke billowed up from the ship that has the capacity to hold around 5 000 cars. Flames and thick black smoke could still be seen on the top deck billowing out of the massive structure as efforts were still underway around 6h30am on Thursday to put out hotspots.
Mayor of the City of Newark, Ras Baraka, said, "A tragedy for us in the city of Newark and all the fire fighters who know what it means to go into a burning structure and the danger you’re going to have to experience. Our prayers go out to them to their families to their brothers and sisters in the fire department who fought beside them tonight and probably many fires before this one."
Mayor Baraka went on to highlight what he called the "many acts of bravery" witnessed during the fatal fire, calling the overall scenario ‘very traumatic’. "I saw many acts of bravery and camaraderie today that’s unparalleled. It’s very, very traumatic for all of us in Newark and we ask everybody to pray for the city of Newark, pray for the fire fighters here, pray for the families that have lost a loved one, loved ones in this struggle," he said.
Mayor Baraka said he witnessed fire fighters coming out of the fire, suffering from the effects of the smoke and heat (both from the fire and from the outside weather), taking off their gear, only to form a line to get back into the ship to continue to put out the fire.
Sources: NBC New York, Mid Jersey News
