In brief
A container ship at the Port of Los Angeles is facing a severe electrical fire that started overnight, resulting in a shelter-in-place order for nearby communities over the potential release of hazardous materials. The fire began below deck and spread to multiple levels of the ship, prompting a significant emergency response from approximately 100 firefighters. Fortunately, all crew members were reported safe, and efforts to control the blaze are ongoing. The incident underscores the dangers present in maritime shipping, especially when hazardous materials are involved.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A fire that broke out aboard a Los Angeles container ship on Friday continued to burn overnight, prompting a shelter in place order for surrounding communities over concerns about hazardous materials within the ship's cargo.All 23 crew members of the ship were accounted for and there were no injuries from the electrical fire, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. Officials said they had identified hazardous materials aboard the vessel, the One Henry Hudson.Just before 3 a.m., Mayor Karen Bass announced a shelter-in-place order for the areas around the port, including San Pedro and Wilmington. “Remain at home, keep windows closed and turn off HVAC systems,” she said on social media. The U.S. Coast Guard said a safety zone of one nautical mile had been established around the vessel. The fire appears to have started below deck, before spreading to several levels of the ship, leading to an explosion mid-deck. The precise cause of the fire is still under investigation.More than 100 firefighters were called to battle the blaze at the Port of Los Angeles, known as the busiest seaport in North America. Their efforts to contain the fire continued throughout the night.The 1,102-foot-long vessel is operated by One Ocean Express, a shipping company based in Singapore. Before its arrival in Los Angeles, the ship had most recently stopped in Japan, visiting Kobe, Nagoya, and Tokyo. One Ocean Express has not yet commented on the incident.
