Deadly Marine Fire At Newark Port

 "Access is tough. The heat is extreme. It's a steel box. So it's a very complex situation."

"You can do all the training int he world and you're going to find something you've nevr seen before."

Gordon Lorenson, Donjon Marine, salvage

Associated Press

 

For three days a cargo ship docked at the biggest port on the U.S. East Coast smouldered and was expected to continue burning for several more days while firefighters desperately tried to control the blaze. Two New Jersey firefighters died trying to battle the blaze, leading to authorities contemplating just how well first responders are being trained. The Italian-flagged vessel carrying cars and other goods was at port in Newark,and what caused the fire will not be known until an investigation takes place once the fire has been extinguished. 

Jets of water were blasted onto the ship to contain the intense heat by a crew of twenty firefighters, salvage workers and a New York fire boat. The fire burned on t he 10th through the 12th levels at the rear of the ship, with flames occasionally flaring up from the top level. This is a huge vessel, the situation couldn't be more dangerous unless there were also explosives on board.

Fire crews were tasked with pouring enough water on the vessel to douse the flames; too much water, on the other hand, could cause the ship to tilt, so the next step is to pump the water off the ship. It did list slightly to its right, but then was stabilized, according to the president of Gallagher Marine Systems, representing the ship's owner, the Grimaldi Group.

Marine Insight

There was a grim silence with authorities declinin to respond to questions whether firefighters should have entered harm's way to put the blaze out given that no lives appeared at risk on te ship from among its 28 crew members. The city has an agreement with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey covering response to fires. They share conversations "today and going forward in terms of training".

Lorenson of Donjon Marine explained that shipboard fires are distinctly unique from one event to the next and even with something of this nature in progress, things can change. According to Newark Fire Chief Rufus Jackon, the department had trained on passenger-carrying ships oreviously, however not the specific type of cargo vessl now being confronted.

Marine traffic trackers indicate the ship, built in 2011, had arrived from the Port of Baltimore several days earlier, carrying ovr 1,200 new and used cars, vans and trucks. The fire occurred on Wenesday at 9:30 p.m.; a maday call went out an hour later when two firefighters became tripped inside the vessel. Firefighter Augusto Acabou was rescued before midnight, and died in hospital the next morning. Wayne Brooks Jr. died early Thursday moring, following having been recovered from the ship.

Left: Wayne Brooks, Jr. and right: Augusto Acabou

 

Another five firefighters were injured, with "steam burns from water accumulated on the cargo ship's floor", the other four suffering heat exhaustion, smoke inhalation and respiratory distress. All three Newark fire captains were released from the hospital. The burn victim was in stable condition, completing his recovery at home.

"[Marine firefighting specialists made considerable progress after] actively conducting fire suppression both pier-side and on the water."

"As of Saturday afternoon, the fire is contained on the 11th deck and is being suppressed and no longer spreading to other areas of the vessel."

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