IMAGN
Los Angeles, California – A fire aboard a container ship carrying hazardous materials drew a massive emergency response Friday night at the Port of Los Angeles, where more than 100 firefighters worked for hours to contain the blaze as explosions and toxic risks complicated the effort.
The Los Angeles Fire Department said the alarm was first raised at 7:13 p.m., after smoke and flames were spotted in multiple cargo bays aboard the vessel One Henry Hudson, docked in San Pedro. According to the department, the crew had reported the fire earlier at 6:38 p.m., prompting a rapid deployment that included marine units and hazardous materials specialists.
By 8:34 p.m., all crew members had been accounted for, and no injuries had been reported. But the incident remained volatile through the night as firefighters confronted both the flames and the added dangers posed by chemicals stored in the burning sections of the ship.
“Fire can be seen outside the ship in several bays at this time. Hazardous materials have been identified in involved bays, per the ship’s manifest,” the LAFD said in an early update.
Firefighters operated in fully encapsulated protective suits and used self-contained breathing apparatuses due to concerns about toxic smoke and potential chemical exposure. Hazmat teams monitored air quality throughout the response, and marine units worked to ensure the fire did not spread deeper into the vessel’s lower compartments.
At 7:58 p.m., an explosion shook the mid-deck, knocking out power and lighting aboard the ship and limiting crane operations utilized for firefighting access. The blast underscored the complexity of battling fires on large cargo vessels, where stacked containers, confined spaces and hazardous materials can turn a single ignition point into a cascading threat.
Progress remained slow, the LAFD said, in part due to the difficulty of reaching affected cargo bays. Fire suppression efforts required large volumes of water, and officials said they were closely monitoring the ship’s stability. As of Friday night, the One Henry Hudson’s height in the water remained stable.
Governor Gavin Newsom’s office said he had been briefed on the situation and that state officials were coordinating with local authorities “to support first responders and protect the surrounding community.”
The U.S. Coast Guard also responded, establishing a one-nautical-mile safety zone around the vessel. “All persons in the area are urged to exercise caution and stay clear of the safety zone,” the agency said in a post on X.
The incident highlights ongoing concerns about safety protocols in major ports, where ships carrying large volumes of hazardous materials routinely dock near densely populated communities. Fires aboard container ships pose risks not only to crew members and firefighters but also to the surrounding environment and port operations, where even brief disruptions can ripple through supply chains.
Authorities did not immediately release information on what chemicals were involved or what may have sparked the blaze. Firefighters remained on scene late into the night as containment efforts continued.
