According to recent reports, response efforts have entered their fourth day as the Unified Command tackles a fire on the containership One Henry Hudson. The blaze erupted Friday evening while the vessel was docked at Berth 218 in the bustling Port of Los Angeles.
The incident unfolded around 6:30 p.m. local time, leading to a swift evacuation of all 23 crew members aboard, with no injuries reported. The fire ignited in hard-to-reach areas below deck, prompting an extensive response from nearly 200 personnel from the Los Angeles City Fire Department and support from various agencies including Long Beach Fire Department and U.S. Coast Guard.
The situation intensified later that night when an explosion mid-ship caused a power outage affecting lights and cranes on board. This forced firefighters to retreat and continue their efforts from a safer distance after hazardous materials were detected in several compartments.
In a coordinated nighttime operation, authorities successfully moved the One Henry Hudson offshore beyond the Vincent Thomas Bridge for safety reasons. By Saturday morning, it was anchored approximately one mile off Angel’s Gate Lighthouse where it has remained as firefighting operations continue.
“Our primary concern is safety,” stated Capt. Stacey Crecy, incident commander for the Coast Guard. “We are actively monitoring air quality and ensuring that safety zones are maintained while collaborating with all involved agencies.” Chief Greg McManus from Los Angeles Port Police confirmed that air quality levels have consistently stayed within safe limits throughout this event.
As a precautionary measure for residents in San Pedro and Wilmington, officials issued a shelter-in-place order despite normal readings being recorded in smoke plumes; this order was lifted once conditions improved after relocating the ship to open waters.
The current focus is on monitoring hot spots within containers using specialized equipment while contracted tugs spray water continuously to cool down affected areas and protect hull integrity-water remains crucial for extinguishing any remaining flames.
The salvage team is prioritizing cargo hold number three which has taken on significant water due to initial firefighting efforts; however, stability concerns regarding the vessel remain minimal as plans for formal salvage operations are being developed.
“Collaboration with our local partners has been vital in ensuring crew safety while minimizing disruption at one of America’s busiest ports,” remarked Capt. Jarrod DeWitz of the Coast Guard’s command team.
The Coast Guard has established a half-mile exclusion zone around One Henry Hudson while managing vessel traffic nearby along with temporary flight restrictions overhead as search-and-rescue resources remain ready should they be needed.
This incident briefly interrupted port activities-four out of seven container terminals had halted operations alongside closures on State Route 47 due to visibility issues caused by smoke-but normal functions have since resumed.
Capt. Daniel Cobos emphasized how effectively isolating this fire demonstrates strong partnerships among local agencies: “Our coordinated approach ensured continued operations at one of our nation’s largest ports.”
This event comes during an important period for Port of Los Angeles which anticipates surpassing ten million TEUs by year-end-a milestone achieved only twice before.
Fire suppression will persist alongside salvage work under Unified Command coordination involving multiple agencies including U.S.C.G., Port Police Department representatives, and those associated with One Henry Hudson itself; meanwhile, LAFD stands ready should further assistance be required.
