Two firefighters die trapped in cargo ship while battling blaze
Two firefighters lost their lives after getting trapped while battling a blaze on an Italian cargo ship in New Jersey.
A fire broke out on the Grande Costa d’Avorio docked at Port Newark around 9.30pm on Wednesday. The ship was loaded with about 1,200 new and used cars, trucks and vans as well as 157 containers, according the vessel’s owner the Grimaldi Group.
The fire started on the 10th deck as crew members were getting the vehicles on board.
Augusto Acabou, 45, who served the Newark Fire Department for nine years, called for help, said Chief Rufus Jackson. Shortly after, 16-year firefighter Wayne Brooks Jr, 49, got trapped. Both of them died.
Neither of them hesitated in responding to the fire on the ship with at least a dozen decks, which they ‘had not trained’ to do, said Mayor Ras Baraka, according to The New York Times.
‘These were two of our best,’ Baraka said.
Emergency responders discovered that five to seven vehicles were ablaze. The fire spread to two overhead decks rapidly and continued burning into Thursday morning.
‘This is the ultimate, ultimate sacrifice of the fire service, to lose a brother or sister of this profession,’ said Jackson, according to CBS News.
‘I ask that each and every one of us – not only the ones who are standing in front of me, but the citizens of Newark, the communities throughout our country – fire service is not just a municipality, it’s a brotherhood, a sisterhood throughout the country, and I ask that each of them pray for our brothers.’
Five other firefighters were hurt, including one who is at a hospital in critical condition, CBS News reported.
The ship was not carrying electric cars or hazardous materials, according to the company.
Baraka said the ship built in Europe did not have equipment that was compatible with the 2.5-inch hose lines in Newark.
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