Timeline: Chief breaks down department's response to fatal Newark ship fire
Tragedy struck at Port Newark late Wednesday night when two firefighters died responding to a fire on a cargo ship carrying thousands of cars. Both were lauded for their heroism in response to the blaze.
Augusto Acabou, 45, and Wayne Brooks, 49, both Newark firefighters assigned to Engine 16, were found dead on the ship, the Grande Costa D'Avorio, authorities said.
At a press conference Thursday morning, Mayor Ras Baraka, Public Safety Director Fritz Fragé and Fire Chief Rufus Jackson all hailed the efforts of the firefighters who responded to the Port Newark blaze. Jackson gave a breakdown of the events surrounding the fire.
9:25 p.m.: The fire is reported
At around 9:25 p.m. Wednesday, Newark firefighters responded to reports of a fire on a ship at Port Newark docked near Corbin and Marsh streets. The ship had about 5,000 cars on it and was about 12 stories high, authorities said.
"The members went in like we always do, to try to make a bad situation better," Jackson said.
Engine 16's fire station, on Ferry Street on the city's east side, is one of the Newark fire stations closest to the area of the fire. Baraka said the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which oversees the port, has a small fire unit, but that Newark is called to help fight bigger fires.
Firefighters tried to extinguish the part of the ship that was on fire, which, according to Jackson, was the 10th, 11th and 12th floors.
'There was a mayday'
Sometime after the firefighters entered the 10th and 11th floors of the ship, Jackson said, a call went out saying a firefighter, Acabou, had died on the ship.
"There was a mayday," Jackson said. "One of our brothers was lost within the fire."
Jackson said the other firefighters on board made an effort, under extreme conditions, to get Acabou's body off the Grande Costa D'Avorio.
Not long after, another mayday call went out, this time for Brooks.
"I ask that we continue to pray for them, for their families," Jackson said.
Jackson did not say at what times the mayday calls came in, saying the fire is still under investigation.
Continuing into Thursday morning
More than 12 hours after the fire started, thick black smoke could still be seen billowing out of the ship. Fire boats blasted water on the ship, as crews continued to arrive throughout Thursday morning.
Baraka arrived at the scene before 11 p.m. and left at around 4 a.m. He said that when he left, the fire was still going.
Jackson said the type of vessel was different from most that firefighters encounter, making it more difficult for the responding crews.
"This was definitely a unique fire for us," the chief said.
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Due to the amount being hosed on the ship, water could be seen cascading off the deck of the ship. Mutual aid from multiple jurisdictions was crucial to the response. Departments from Bergen, Essex, Hudson and Union counties all responded, as did units from the New York City Fire Department and the United States Coast Guard.
Because of the extreme heat, crews rotated in and out of the fire, Jackson said.
Baraka added that he saw firefighters come out of the fire and take their gear off in "complete exhaustion," before putting the gear back on, ready to go back in.
"These people fought to go back in there as other units came to relieve them," Baraka said.
A total of five firefighters were injured in the fire, including three from Newark. One suffered burned feet, one had heat exhaustion and another had respiratory distress. Additionally, two Elizabeth firefighters suffered smoke inhalation and heat exhaustion.
What's next
A review will be conducted into the fire and the subsequent response.
"We're going to review and analyze how we did," Fragé said. "It's for our struggle and strive to always be better. No matter how good you do something, you always look for improvement."
The Essex County Prosecutor's Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives will oversee the investigation.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Fatal ship fire in Newark NJ: Chief gives response timeline
