A fire that erupted Friday evening on a cargo ship docked at the Port of Los Angeles — requiring more than 180 firefighters to battle the blaze — is now “substantially contained,” according to a news release Saturday from the seaport.
An electrical fire on a lower deck of the cargo ship One Henry Hudson started at 6:38 p.m. local time, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. An explosion shook the vessel shortly before 8 p.m., knocking out power to lights and cranes, LAFD said.
No injuries were reported, and all 23 crew members were evacuated from the ship, authorities said.
A spokesperson with the LAFD said the cargo ship has since been moved. Capt. Erik Scott told CNN Saturday the ship was escorted beyond the Vincent Thomas Bridge around 3 a.m. local time.
LAFD deployed nearly 200 crew members and used resources like thermal imaging, boats, a foam apparatus and air operations to fight the fire and conduct search and rescue efforts alongside the Long Beach Fire Department.
The Port of Los Angeles, which describes itself as North America’s busiest, earlier said four of its seven container terminals suspended operations Friday night and a safety zone was established around the ship. Port operations resumed Saturday morning, according to a news release.
“Many of our fire boats are out there. They are trying to cool down this vessel,” fire department Capt. Adam Van Gerpen said at a news conference.
This image taken from video provided by ABC7 shows first responders battling a blaze on a container ship docked at the Port of Los Angeles on Friday. – ABC7/AP
LAFD said “the incident presented extraordinary challenges,” with the fire burning in areas that were largely inaccessible and an explosion causing onboard lights and cranes to lose power.
Several cargo containers involved in the blaze carry hazardous materials, requiring firefighters to wear protective suits and oxygen masks, Van Gerpen said. Air quality was being monitored as crews worked overnight to suppress the blaze in the ship’s lower levels.
At 11 p.m. Friday, the LAFD ordered all firefighters off the deck. By midnight, authorities had advised residents in San Pedro and Wilmington to shelter in place. The shelter-in-place order has since been lifted and the fire “is no longer burning with the same intensity,” according to a spokesperson for the Port of Los Angeles.
The Long Beach Fire Department, Los Angeles County Fire Department, Los Angeles Port Police, California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services and US Coast Guard also responded to the incident.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said in a statement on X that the city is closely monitoring the situation. California Gov. Gavin Newsom has been briefed on the incident, according to his office.
“Fire suppression operations are expected to continue while salvage teams begin their work under the coordination of all partner agencies,” LAFD said in a news release Saturday.
The Panama-flagged cargo ship, built in 2008, had recently arrived from Tokyo, according to the online tracker Vessel Finder.
CNN has reached out to the ship’s management company, Fukujin Kisen, for comment.
CNN’s Sarah Moon and Michelle Watson contributed to this report.
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