PORT NEWARK, New Jersey (WABC) — Two firefighters died after becoming trapped while battling a fire on a ship docked in Port Newark Wednesday night.
The fire broke out around 9:30 p.m. at Export Street and Marsh Street in Newark.
Newark firefighters were dispatched to the scene after a report of multiple vehicles on fire on a boat in Port Newark.
The fire started on deck 10 when crew members and local stevedores were moving cars, vans and trucks.
Upon arrival, the firefighters located the fire, which occurred in five or seven cars and spread to the 11th and 12th floors of the ship, named the Grande Costa D’Ivorio.
“Members attempted to extinguish the fire but were pushed back by the intense heat. Two firefighters were lost while attempting to evacuate the structure,” said Newark Fire Chief Rufus Jackson.
Finally, the firemen located inside the large ship and declared them dead.
The victims identified as Augusto “Augie” Acabou, 45, and Wayne “Bears” Brooks Jr., 49.
Acabou was a nine-year veteran of the Newark Fire Department.
Both were assigned to engine 16.
“I just want the world to know that we just lost two of our best here in the city of Newark, who without hesitation, gave their lives and probably didn’t think that morning that they would be fighting a fire on a 5000 ship cars,” Newark Mayor Ras Baraka said at a press conference after the tragedy.
The last time a Newark firefighter died on the job was in 2007.
The mayor vividly described the bodies lowered from a pulley as firefighters lined up on either side to pay their respects.
“That image will forever be etched in my mind because of how dangerous this job is,” Mayor Baraka said.
Newark Fire Chief Rufus Jackson said Newark firefighters had been trained to fight fires on cruise ships and other ships containing housing, but not one that carried vehicles.
“This was definitely a unique fire for us,” Chief Rufus Jackson said.
Former Jersey City Fire Chief Steven McGill explained the situation:
According to Chief Jackson, five firefighters were injured while battling the flames.
Three of those victims were members of the Newark Fire Department and two were members of the Elizabeth Fire Department.
They were taken to University Hospital in Newark for treatment.
The ship was carrying thousands of vehicles, which saw firefighters battling the blaze well into the morning.
There were no electric cars or dangerous cargo on the ship. The ship is not spilling fuel or in danger of sinking.
This vessel generally operates between the US and West Africa. It transports more than 1,200 new and used vehicles and 157 containers.
During the news conference, Mayor Baraka said the city will have “a long conversation” with the Port Authority about firefighting at the agency’s locations.
“This is a long conversation that we’re going to have between now and until we get a real resolution of what needs to be done as we move forward,” he said.
“This is a fire that took place on Port Authority property. They call us when there are large structural fires. We go out to help them put those fires out. Obviously, this became a problem where they just didn’t have capacity to deal with what was happening, so we had to take full control.”
Following news of the fire, Gov. Phil Murphy issued a statement saying, “Our hearts are heavy today as we mourn the loss of two Newark firefighters who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. Tammy and I extend our deepest condolences to their families and loved ones, and pray for a full and speedy recovery for those injured. This tragedy is a painful reminder of the dangers our firefighters face and their courage remarkable”.
The Grimaldi Group also issued a statement saying: “The Italian-flagged ship was completing the loading operations of several rolling units (cars, vans, trucks) when the fire started on deck No. 10 on which local stevedores and crew attended.The ship’s crew immediately activated fire-fighting procedures on board while the local fire service was alerted, and their quick response played a crucial role in containing the and bring the fire under control. Sadly, during the extinguishing operations, Grimaldi Deep Sea was informed that two firefighters lost their lives. All the thoughts, prayers and condolences of the Company are with their families and team at this time. at this time, it is not known how the fire started, but the company will undertake a full investigation in close cooperation with all relevant authorities.
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The fire after being caught while putting out a fire
The fire broke out in five or seven cars on the 11th and 12th floors of a warehouse carrying about 5,000 vehicles.
