Cargo ship fire in Los Angeles nearly contained after shelter-in-place order lifted

Fire aboard container ship at Port of Los Angeles nearly contained after hazmat concerns

A fire that erupted on a container ship docked at the Port of Los Angeles Friday night has been largely contained, authorities reported Saturday afternoon. The blaze on the One Henry Hudson prompted temporary evacuation orders and raised environmental concerns due to potentially hazardous cargo.

Firefighters have made significant progress in extinguishing the flames, though a small section remained burning as the vessel was moved offshore. Los Angeles Fire Department spokesperson Adam Van Gerpen confirmed that fireboats continued to spray water on the remaining hotspots as officials assessed potential contamination.

“We’re still evaluating the environmental impact,” Van Gerpen said. “Approximately 100 cargo containers burned, and many contained dangerous materials, including lithium-ion batteries and other hazardous waste.”

The fire began below deck before spreading to multiple levels of the ship, eventually causing an explosion mid-deck, according to fire department officials. The exact cause of the electrical fire remains under investigation.

In response to concerns about air quality, authorities had issued a shelter-in-place order for surrounding communities, which was lifted Saturday morning after air monitoring indicated improved conditions. The U.S. Coast Guard established a safety zone of half a nautical mile around the vessel and implemented a temporary flight restriction as a precaution.

“We don’t know specifically which containers burned,” Van Gerpen noted, making it difficult to immediately determine the extent of potential contamination from hazardous materials. Coast Guard officials indicated that a comprehensive assessment is underway.

More than 100 firefighters responded to the incident at North America’s busiest seaport, with efforts continuing throughout the night. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass acknowledged the first responders’ work in containing the blaze and preventing injuries.

All 23 crew members were safely accounted for with no injuries reported, providing a positive note amid the concerning incident. Port operations resumed by Saturday morning, minimizing disruption to the critical shipping hub that handles billions of dollars in cargo annually.

The 1,102-foot (336-meter) vessel is operated by Singapore-headquartered Ocean Network Express. In a statement, the shipping company expressed gratitude to emergency responders and committed to supporting the incident management and subsequent investigations.

“We are relieved that all crew members are safe and accounted for,” the company stated. “We are fully committed to supporting incident management and subsequent investigations.”

Maritime experts note that container ship fires represent a significant safety challenge for the shipping industry. Lithium-ion batteries, when improperly packed or damaged, can trigger thermal runaway events leading to difficult-to-extinguish fires. Recent years have seen several high-profile incidents involving battery fires aboard cargo vessels.

The One Henry Hudson had recently visited several Japanese ports, including Kobe, Nagoya, and Tokyo, before arriving in Los Angeles. The vessel’s previous itinerary may become relevant as investigators work to determine the fire’s origin and cause.

The incident comes at a time when the Port of Los Angeles, along with other major U.S. ports, has been working to address supply chain challenges and record cargo volumes following pandemic-related disruptions. Any prolonged disruption to port operations could have ripple effects throughout supply chains already strained by global shipping pressures.

Environmental agencies will continue monitoring air and water quality in the area as cleanup operations proceed in the coming days.