Container ship fire at Los Angeles port triggers hazardous material alerts
Nearby residents urged to stay indoors as firefighting efforts continue
All crew members have been evacuated from the container ship One Henry Hudson after a fire and explosion disrupted the vessel’s power and crane operations at San Pedro port on Friday, the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) said.
Hazardous materials have been identified in several bays at the port, and firefighters are wearing protective gear and using self-contained breathing equipment.
Marine units continue cooling the ship’s exterior, with no personnel allowed below deck, the LAFD said. TV footage from an ABC affiliate shows firefighting boats shooting streams of water on the ship’s sides and over containers on fire on the deck.
Four of the port’s seven container terminals have suspended operations and a waterside safety zone has been established around the vessel, port officials said.
LAFD said it has issued a shelter-in-place order for San Pedro and Wilmington due to a hazardous materials incident resulting from the container ship fire.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said residents in areas under the order should remain at home with their windows closed and air conditioning systems turned off.