A fire broke out aboard the container ship ONE Henry Hudson at the Port of Los Angeles on Friday evening, forcing the evacuation of all 23 crewmembers and triggering a major emergency response.
The Panama-flagged vessel, built in 2009 and with a capacity of 8,212 TEU, had arrived from Tokyo on November 19. It was docked at the Yusen Container Terminal when the crew reported a below-deck electrical fire at about 6:38 p.m.
The blaze spread through several sub-levels in largely inaccessible areas. A mid-deck explosion caused a power loss, leaving the crew without lighting and disrupting crane operations. Firefighters could not enter the lower decks because of heat, smoke and limited access.
Nearly 200 responders arrived from Los Angeles and Long Beach. Fireboats supplied cooling water, while HazMat teams monitored air quality because of dangerous cargo in multiple bays.
Four of the port’s seven container terminals suspended operations. Early confusion about the crew’s status led to reports of missing sailors, but authorities later confirmed that all 23 crewmembers were safe. They assisted in maneuvering the vessel to an anchorage about one mile offshore, where firefighting continued through Saturday. Some crewmembers remain aboard and are still involved in the response.
As of 1:30 p.m. Saturday, the fire was isolated to a single cargo hold. The Coast Guard set a half-nautical-mile safety zone around the ship. Officials said at least 40 containers were affected, and the fire may have spread to 100 or more after an onboard explosion. No injuries among the crew or responders have been reported.
The Port of Los Angeles has since resumed operations. The cause of the explosion and fire remains under investigation.
