On Friday night (November 21), a fire broke out on the cargo ship “One Henry Hudson” docked at the Port of Los Angeles in the United States, with over a hundred firefighters working to extinguish the blaze. Due to concerns about hazardous substances onboard posing a health risk, the mayor of Los Angeles issued an evacuation order for surrounding communities.
According to information released by the Los Angeles Fire Department, an electrical fire broke out on the lower deck of the container ship at 6:38 pm local time on Friday evening. By close to 8 p.m., there was an explosion on the ship, causing vibrations throughout the vessel and resulting in a power outage affecting lighting and lifting equipment.
Officials from the fire department reported that all 23 crew members on board had been safely rescued, and no injuries were reported as a result of the fire. They also mentioned that hazardous materials had been discovered on the cargo ship.
At 11 p.m. on Friday night, the Los Angeles Fire Department ordered all firefighters to leave the deck.
Shortly before 3 a.m., Mayor Karen Bass announced a localized evacuation order for areas surrounding the port, including San Pedro and Wilmington.
“Stay at home, close your windows, and turn off your HVAC systems,” the mayor said on the social media platform X.
Bass stated that over a hundred firefighters were working relentlessly to extinguish the large fire and monitoring air quality.
Fire Department Captain Adam Van Gerpen said during a press conference, “Many of our fireboats are there. They are working hard to cool down the ship.”
Van Gerpen also mentioned that several containers on the cargo ship carried hazardous materials, requiring firefighters to wear protective gear and oxygen masks while carrying out their duties.
The U.S. Coast Guard stated that a safety zone had been established within one nautical mile of the ship.
The Port of Los Angeles confirmed that four out of its seven container terminals are temporarily suspended. The Los Angeles Fire Department indicated that the Marine Corps continues to cool the exterior of the vessel, and no entry is allowed on the deck below.
According to data from LSEG, “One Henry Hudson” flies the flag of Panama and had recently arrived in Los Angeles from Tokyo.
Governor Gavin Newsom’s office in California stated on the X platform that they are coordinating with local authorities to support rescue efforts.