- The explosion forces a withdrawal and a shift to offshore suppression.
- Air monitoring shows safe levels; shelter-in-place lifted.
- Crews target hot spots and flooded cargo holds.
Response operations stretched into a fourth day on Tuesday after a fire erupted Friday evening on a container ship docked at the Port of Los Angeles, reports gCaptain.
Crew Evacuated and Initial Response
All 23 crew members were safely evacuated without any injuries. The fire, which broke out in several sub-levels below deck and was tough to reach, prompted a massive multi-agency response that included nearly 200 firefighters and various supporting agencies.
Explosion Forces Withdrawal
Later that Friday, an explosion on board knocked out power to the lighting and cranes, forcing crews to pull back and tackle the fire from a safer distance. With hazardous materials found in several bays, the Unified Command made the decision to move the vessel offshore. By Saturday morning, they had escorted it beyond the Vincent Thomas Bridge, anchoring it about a mile from the shore.
Safety and Air Monitoring
“Safety is our top priority in addressing this incident,” said Capt. Stacey Crecy. Air readings remained within normal levels throughout. “The Port Police Hazmat team is providing live air monitoring from four strategic locations throughout the port using air mobile with a live feed into the Department Operations Centre,” said Chief Greg McManus. A precautionary shelter-in-place order for nearby residents was lifted once the vessel was relocated to open water.
Ongoing Suppression and Salvage
Teams are still working to monitor and extinguish hot spots using a fire lance, while tugs keep the area cool. One cargo hold, which was heavily flooded during the initial firefighting efforts, remains a primary focus. Fortunately, vessel stability isn’t an issue, and a formal salvage plan is in the works. “We worked closely with our local partners to keep crews safe, move the vessel offshore, and prevent any disruption to the Port of Los Angeles,” said Capt. Jarrod DeWitz.
Safety Zone and Port Operations
A half-mile safety zone and temporary flight restrictions are still in effect. The incident led to temporary suspensions at several terminals and the closure of a nearby road due to smoke, but port operations have since returned to normal. “The successful isolation of this vessel fire shows a strong partnership between the Port of Los Angeles and our local partners,” said Capt. Daniel Cobos.
Unified Command Continues Work
Fire suppression and salvage efforts are ongoing under the Unified Command. Local fire authorities have transitioned to a support role and are on standby.
Did you subscribe to our daily Newsletter?
It’s Free Click here to Subscribe!
Source: gCaptain
