Newark, NJ 7/5/23 Ship Fire

grumpy grizzly said:
Do you have an update for this incident? NBC is showing women's golf, ABC had nothing, we don't get CBS, and I don't trust Fox and CNN. Thanx.
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Per Eyewitness News, fire is contained and being suppressed on ship. Not sure what that means in relation to an update in the situation.

RIP to the fallen members and prayers for the depts. that responded and helped in the recovery effort.
Depts. and companies going into the scene after the members maydays went off had to be tough, example: R5 responding in under the circumstances.
 
Marine Tracker is showing Marine 9 alongside as of 2000hrs today. Looks like Marine 6B just left. 343 had been there up until at least this morning.
 
PROGRESS REPORT PROVIDED BY THE US COAST GUARD:

July 8, 2023

UPDATE 1: Unified Command continues response to fire aboard motor vessel Grande Costa D’Avorio at Port Newark​


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To view and download the videos, click the above thumbnails.
PORT NEWARK, New Jersey – The Unified Command consisting of the U.S. Coast Guard, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Newark Fire Department, and Gallagher Marine Systems is continuing its response to the fire aboard the vessel at Port Newark.
“Thanks to the dedication of the responders on scene, we have made considerable progress overnight,” said Capt. Zeita Merchant, the captain of the port of New York and New Jersey and federal on-scene coordinator. “There is still significant work to do, and challenges ahead as we get closer to an end state, but the ability for agencies at all levels to work together in our response is a testament to our shared commitment and singular vision to ensuring the responders, the community, and the port remains safe.” added Capt. Zeita Merchant.
As of Saturday afternoon, the fire is contained on the 11th deck and is being suppressed and no longer spreading to other areas of the vessel. Responders are also continuing dewatering operations on the lower decks. Due to successful dewatering, the vessel has been further stabilized. The vessel will continue to list between one and two degrees to starboard as a way to accelerate the dewatering process.
Air monitoring specialists, contracted by Gallagher Marine Systems, continues to perform air monitoring around the vessel and in the surrounding areas. Additional air monitoring devices are being deployed to extend the footprint of the monitored area. No detections above hazardous levels in the surrounding areas have been observed since the monitoring began on July 6th at 9pm.
“Public and responder safety remain a top priority for the Unified Command and even thought the progress made on fire suppression on the vessel is a significant victory, we will continue to deploy air and water monitoring resources," said Kevin S. Perry, Vice President of Emergency Response, Gallagher Marine Systems.
If people in the surrounding areas and communities are concerned about air quality, we urge them to review the DEP and EPA air quality monitoring resources, listed below, which can be used by the public for general awareness about current air quality in their community.
Air quality forecasting resources:
New Jersey Environmental Protection Agency air monitoring site: https://www.airnow.gov/
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection air monitoring site: https://nj.gov/dep/airmon/
There is no visible pollution or sheen in the water, but it is discolored from soot. Water samples were collected on Friday and test results from those samples are expected to be returned within 48 hours.
The City of Newark and the Newark Fire Department continues to work closely with the Unified Command.
“We are pleased to report that each of the Newark Fire Captains who were injured while fighting the fire at Port Newark have been released from the hospital,” said Newark Public Safety Director Fritz Fragé. “The Newark Fire Captain who suffered burns from water accumulated on the cargo ship’s floor is reportedly in stable condition and will complete his recovery at home,” he added.
The U.S. Coast Guard is currently enforcing a security zone within the Port Newark Channel and the Port Newark Channel from Berth 18 inward remains closed. The Port of New York and New Jersey remains open.
“The Port Authority continues to remain focused on maintaining operations across the port,” said Port Authority Port Director Bethann Rooney. “We thank our partners in the Unified Command for their steadfast support throughout the response efforts.”
A formal investigation will be conducted to identify what caused the fire and subsequent fatalities, and all investigative parties at the federal, state, and local levels as well as the owners, are working closely together during this process.
 
FDNY704 said:
Why have they not used Foam?
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Foam doesn't work well on a 3 dimensional fire like cars. It's best on liquid fires where it can float on a surface and smother the fire. Hi ex foam maybe but you would need a lot of it and room to maneuver, which, there isnt any in this case.
 
UPDATED REPORT FROM THE US COAST GUARD:

July 9, 2023

UPDATE 2: Unified Command continues response to fire aboard motor vessel Grande Costa D’Avorio at Port Newark​


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PORT NEWARK, New Jersey – The Unified Command consisting of the U.S. Coast Guard, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Newark Fire Department, and Gallagher Marine Systems is continuing its response to the fire aboard the vehicle cargo vessel at Port Newark.
As of Sunday, the 11th deck is being monitored and overhauled to address any remaining heat sources. Responders are dewatering spaces as necessary to ensure continued stability.
With thunderstorms and significant wind gusts expected in the region for the remainder of the weekend, the Unified Command put measures in place to mitigate any potential impacts. They continue to monitor weather conditions and adjust operations as necessary to ensure the safety of the responders and response efforts.
Specialists are continuing to perform air monitoring around the vessel and the surrounding areas. No detections above hazardous levels in the surrounding areas have been observed since the monitoring began on July 6 at 9 p.m. Anyone concerned about air quality is encouraged to review the following New Jersey Environmental Protection Agency and New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection air quality monitoring resources, which can be used by the public for general awareness about current air quality in their community.
Air quality forecasting resources:
As of 5 p.m. today, the Port Newark Channel has reopened. The Port of New York and New Jersey remains open and operational.
 
While "Hi-Ex" =High Expansion Foam is not the worst idea it is hard to get to flow over areas where there is many obstructions to the Foams forward motion. The advantage of High Expansion Foam is that it soaks materials very well. But when the inside or underside of the cars are burning the Hi-Ex. Foam cannot easily reach the area and soak into the burning materials. New devices that are on the market to fight fires in the underside of Electric Car under floor batteries, spray water up from below the batteries, might prove helpful. The problem is that these cars are packed so closely together that any approach is very very difficult. Perhaps the best idea may be to try to pull or tow as many vehicles out of the involved fire area as possible, to provide better access. "All these damaged cars will have to be removed anyway why not start now."
Captain Bob Rainey FDNY Engine 26 retired.
 
Captain784 said:
While "Hi-Ex" =High Expansion Foam is not the worst idea it is hard to get to flow over areas where there is many obstructions to the Foams forward motion. The advantage of High Expansion Foam is that it soaks materials very well. But when the inside or underside of the cars are burning the Hi-Ex. Foam cannot easily reach the area and soak into the burning materials. New devices that are on the market to fight fires in the underside of Electric Car under floor batteries, spray water up from below the batteries, might prove helpful. The problem is that these cars are packed so closely together that any approach is very very difficult. Perhaps the best idea may be to try to pull or tow as many vehicles out of the involved fire area as possible, to provide better access. "All these damaged cars will have to be removed anyway why not start now."
Captain Bob Rainey FDNY Engine 26 retired.
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May be a dumb-ass idea but was any thought given to a water drop, such as in forest fires. A large amount of water in a concentrated area? Or were there other mitigating that would have made it impractical?
 
grumpy grizzly said:
May be a dumb-ass idea but was any thought given to a water drop, such as in forest fires. A large amount of water in a concentrated area? Or were there other mitigating that would have made it impractical?
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Things got so bad with the USS Bon Homme Richard fire in San Diego thats what they resorted to for boundary cooling and trying to protect the island structure. By that point the most of the ship was already a lost cause and once the Aluminum got involved it was mostly for show.
 
Latest Progress Report - The fire is out!!!


| July 11, 2023

Unified Command transitions from shipboard fire response to investigation and salvage operations at Port Newark​


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To view and download a video of the press conference, click the above thumbnail.
Editor's Note: Click here to download response imagery.

PORT NEWARK, New Jersey – The Unified Command consisting of the U.S. Coast Guard, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Newark Fire Department, and Gallagher Marine Systems has successfully concluded shipboard fire response operations at Port Newark and is transitioning to the investigation and salvage operations.

As of this morning, the fire has been extinguished.

“I want to share our heartfelt condolences once again to families of Newark firefighters Augusto Acabou and Wayne Brooks Jr., as well as to their colleagues, their fellow first responders, and the community they both lived in and served,” said Capt. Zeita Merchant, the captain of the port of New York and New Jersey and federal on-scene coordinator. “Their selfless sacrifice is on the minds of all involved in the response and we will never forget their acts of courage.”

The prompt, efficient response to the shipboard fire incident demonstrated the organization's commitment to protecting lives, property, and the environment. Through the coordinated efforts of dedicated personnel and the utilization of specialized equipment, the fire was contained and extinguished, minimizing potential risks and damages.

As the fire response phase concludes, the focus now shifts towards investigation and salvage operations. The Coast Guard, along with its partner agencies, will work diligently to assess and mitigate any remaining risks or any remaining impact to port operations, and to determine the cause of the incident.

Salvage operations will encompass the safe removal and recovery of the affected vessel, with the primary objective of minimizing any potential impact on the environment. Response teams will carefully plan and execute the salvage operation, prioritizing the preservation of marine ecosystems and ensuring the safety of the personnel involved.

Concurrent with salvage operations, a comprehensive formal investigation will be launched to determine the root causes and contributing factors leading to the shipboard fire. The investigation will be led by the Coast Guard in tandem with federal, state, and local entities including the National Transportation Safety Board, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, New Jersey State Fire Marshal, New Jersey State Police, Newark Fire Arson Division, Essex County Prosecutor and a host of safety agencies to ensure we gain a critical and necessary understanding of the incident. The findings of the investigation will be vital in preventing similar incidents in the future and enhancing maritime safety and security protocols.

The safety and security of the maritime infrastructure remain paramount, and the Unified Command is committed to upholding its mission to protect the nation's maritime interests. The transition from shipboard fire response to salvage and investigation operations at Port Newark highlights the dedication, professionalism, and resilience of its personnel and partners.

The Coast Guard will provide regular updates regarding the progress of salvage operations, investigation findings, and any necessary actions to ensure the ongoing safety and security of maritime operations at Port Newark.
 
Captain784 said:
While "Hi-Ex" =High Expansion Foam is not the worst idea it is hard to get to flow over areas where there is many obstructions to the Foams forward motion. The advantage of High Expansion Foam is that it soaks materials very well. But when the inside or underside of the cars are burning the Hi-Ex. Foam cannot easily reach the area and soak into the burning materials. New devices that are on the market to fight fires in the underside of Electric Car under floor batteries, spray water up from below the batteries, might prove helpful. The problem is that these cars are packed so closely together that any approach is very very difficult. Perhaps the best idea may be to try to pull or tow as many vehicles out of the involved fire area as possible, to provide better access. "All these damaged cars will have to be removed anyway why not start now."
Captain Bob Rainey FDNY Engine 26 retired.
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I agree that the easiest way to fight the fire would have been front end loaders with forks and tele handlers. But, I don't know how much overhead they had to get something big in to grab them, or how easy it would have been to lower the deck. They may have to empty several.decks or partially empty several below that deck to get to them.

This is just me thinking but the only way I can see HiEx working would be if it was supplied like the systems in the mitary hangars. Where there's multiple large educators on the ceiling, that could fill the space fairly quickly.any car burning at some point, would have vented most likely allowing foam into the interior. Bit again you would have to have sealed the deck completely for that to work. In the loading phase like they were, I don't know how easy it is to do that.
 
grumpy grizzly said:
May be a dumb-ass idea but was any thought given to a water drop, such as in forest fires. A large amount of water in a concentrated area? Or were there other mitigating that would have made it impractical?
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Eventually that would have helped, but from my understanding, the deck where the fire started was 2 or 3 decks below top deck. So initially it would have had little to no effect. Every picture I saw of M1 or M9 ,showed at least 1 of their large monitors pointed at the open top deck.
 
grumpy grizzly said:
May be a dumb-ass idea but was any thought given to a water drop, such as in forest fires. A large amount of water in a concentrated area? Or were there other mitigating that would have made it impractical?
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Normally water drops do not do what you were thinking, I could not put Larchmont of water in a concentrated area. Instead they spread the water out to quench a large area. Units in that capable of dropping a large amount of water would be a Bambi bucket and they really don't care that much water to be effective for something like this. The big guns from the FDNY boats would put a lot more water in much quicker.
 
How do you make an aerial waterdrop into an enclosed ship or other area? I realize your good intent, but perhaps we need to reevaluate what we are trying to do and how do we do it. Interior large caliber streams have been used to fight advanced High-Rise fires in the past. A portable large Caliber Stream device (FDNY has or had few mounted on wheels in our High-Rise Units) used from a safe vantage point, either inside or outside and then into the involved fire area can control the fire until it runs low on fuel. This is a tactic used in serious high-rise Fires. The other answer is to isolate the fire area with airtight doors etc. and use CO2 in large amounts to starve the fire of Air, while monitoring the temperatures of surrounding metal bulkheads and overheads, to prevent the fire spreading via heat conducted in the metal bulkheads and overheads as well as the floor/s. Below I have attached Online photosSFFD Co2 Unit.jpg of the San Francisco Fire department CO2 Units.
Captain Bob Rainey FDNY Engine 26 retired.

SFFD Carbon Dioxide Unit.jpg
 
Bulldog said:
Normally water drops do not do what you were thinking, I could not put Larchmont of water in a concentrated area. Instead they spread the water out to quench a large area. Units in that capable of dropping a large amount of water would be a Bambi bucket and they really don't care that much water to be effective for something like this. The big guns from the FDNY boats would put a lot more water in much quicker.
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What I was thinking was using a helicopter drop over a concentrated area and not spread out like in a forest fire. Obviously I guess I was wrong.
 
Captain784 said:
How do you make an aerial waterdrop into an enclosed ship or other area? I realize your good intent, but perhaps we need to reevaluate what we are trying to do and how do we do it. Interior large caliber streams have been used to fight advanced High-Rise fires in the past. A portable large Caliber Stream device (FDNY has or had few mounted on wheels in our High-Rise Units) used from a safe vantage point, either inside or outside and then into the involved fire area can control the fire until it runs low on fuel. This is a tactic used in serious high-rise Fires. The other answer is to isolate the fire area with airtight doors etc. and use CO2 in large amounts to starve the fire of Air, while monitoring the temperatures of surrounding metal bulkheads and overheads, to prevent the fire spreading via heat conducted in the metal bulkheads and overheads as well as the floor/s. Below I have attached Online photosView attachment 36897 of the San Francisco Fire department CO2 Units.
Captain Bob Rainey FDNY Engine 26 retired.

View attachment 36896
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I meant via a helicopter and a bucket drop sir.
 
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