A container ship containing hazardous materials caught fire in Los Angeles Friday. Crew members were evacuated safely, and a shelter-in-place order nearby was lifted Saturday.
The burning ship ONE Henry Hudson was towed and anchored outside the breakwater at the Port of Los Angeles Saturday as fire suppression efforts continued. Closed terminals at the port were also reopened, and the port resumed regular operations.
“It’s safely been moved into open water. There’s no danger to the public,” Los Angeles Fire Department Capt. Adam VanGerpen said, according to the Los Angeles Times.
At least 100 containers on board the boat caught fire, Mr. VanGerpen said, according to KTLA-TV.
A shelter-in-place order issued early Saturday morning, asking residents to close windows and doors, turn off their AC or heating, and stay in inside rooms due to hazardous materials residue in the air, was rescinded at 6:30 a.m. local time Saturday, fire officials said.
An electrical fire broke out below deck at around 6:38 p.m. local time Friday, the Los Angeles Fire Department said. Fire spread to several areas of the 1,100-foot ship, which was carrying some unspecified hazardous materials, and 23 crew members needed to be evacuated.
Just before 8 p.m. local time Friday, an explosion rocked the mid-deck of the ship, causing power issues on board the boat that affected crane operations and lights. All of the crew members were safely deboarded by 8:27 p.m., with none of them suffering injuries.
Firefighters had to cool the ship from the outside to help those on board fight the fire, though no Los Angeles Fire Department personnel were allowed below deck. Just after 11 p.m., all personnel were ordered off the ship as the department started using other methods to fight the fire.
