- Contained fire remains under watch for heat signatures or re-flash.
- Overnight relocation offshore enabled safer suppression efforts.
- Salvage group preparing plan for controlled return to port.
The U.S. Coast Guard has announced that active firefighting efforts have come to a halt after crews successfully contained a fire that broke out in the lower-deck compartments while the vessel was docked at the port, reports gCaptain.
Firefighting Operations Transition to Monitoring
“Now that the fire is determined to be contained, there will be a waiting period to ensure no re-flashes or heat signatures are detected,” said Stacey Crecy. She added that the inability to open containers means “there remains some risk,” though mitigation measures are in place. All 23 crew members were safely evacuated with no injuries.
Initial Response and Overnight Relocation Offshore
Nearly 200 responders from the Los Angeles Fire Department, along with support from the Long Beach Fire Department, the Port of Los Angeles Police, Cal OES, and the Coast Guard, battled the blaze both on the ship and from the pier. A mid-ship explosion led to a loss of power, forcing crews to pull back. Due to hazardous materials concerns, Unified Command decided to move the vessel offshore during an overnight operation. By early Saturday, it was anchored about a mile off Angel’s Gate Lighthouse, where cooling and stability monitoring continued.
Salvage Operations and Next Steps
A salvage group has taken temporary possession and is developing a plan with port authorities for a controlled return to an approved facility. “Now that there is no active firefighting ongoing, we can look forward to the next steps in bringing the ship back to the pier safely and removing the cargo in a controlled state at the approved facility,” Crecy said.
Used firefighting water is contained within the cargo hold and will be offloaded under Coast Guard supervision. “Everyone from the salvage operations to the Unified Command and all the supporting agencies are working together to ensure safety of the community, the Port and the response crew,” said Dan Cobos.
Air Quality and Safety Zones
Air quality monitoring is ongoing around the clock at the port, with results staying within state and federal guidelines. A temporary shelter-in-place advisory for nearby communities has been lifted, and real-time updates are available on the port’s monitoring website. A safety zone is still in effect, enforced by the Coast Guard and Port of Los Angeles police, along with a temporary flight restriction.
Vessel Stability and Port Impacts
Responders are focusing their efforts on Cargo Hold 03, which is estimated to be 80% flooded due to early suppression efforts. Fortunately, there are no current stability concerns. The incident led to temporary shutdowns at four container terminals and closures on a nearby state route because of smoke, but normal port operations have since resumed. The Coast Guard and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the cause of the incident.
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Source: gCaptain
