TACOMA, Wash. — Multiple agencies are continuing to battle a fire aboard a fishing ship moored in Tacoma going on three days after it first ignited.
The fire was first reported at around 3 a.m. Saturday morning when a security guard noticed smoke coming from the ship. Three engineers on board were evacuated safely.
The fire is spreading below deck, according to the United States Coast Guard (USCG).
Four firefighters were initially injured attacking the fire the day it started, but crews have pulled back and are continuing to battle the fire from the outside of the ship.
The Tacoma Fire Department is cooling the ship by continuously applying water to the vessel’s hull.
The Hylebos Waterway is closed to commercial and recreational vessels while the fire continues burning. The Coast Guard has a boat patrolling the area to enforce the closure.
The Environmental Protection Agency and Washington State Department of Ecology are also responding to the fire, among other agencies.
Firefighting efforts resulted in a “substantial reduction in the vessel fire with improved smoke conditions,” according to USCG. A shelter-in-place order was issued Sunday afternoon for the Browns Point, Dash Point and Northeast Tacoma neighborhoods due to smoke emanating from the fire, but the order was lifted early Monday morning.
The fire also prompted delayed school start times in those neighborhoods.
The ship is visibly leaning to the port side, “more than we want it to,” officials said on Monday.
The ship is taking on water, but crews working on scene aren’t sure how. Work is underway to pump water out of the ship so it remains stable. A dive operation is also underway so the hull of the ship can be inspected.
In the meantime, as the fire continues burning inside, firefighters are keeping their distance.
"We’re trying to limit the number of people that go on board," said Todd Magliocca, an operations leader with Tacoma Fire.
Applying water from the inside is risky as crews are trying to prioritize keeping the ship upright.
“When you pour a bunch of water onto a boat, it adds a lot of weight and it can make a boat list, to the point where it can tip over," said Ty Keltner, communications manager for the Washington Department of Ecology's Spill Program.
If the ship tipped over or sank, it would create an imminent risk for the marine environment.
"If it were to capsize there is the potential for that diesel fuel to discharge into the waterway," said Lt. Brian Dykens of the U.S. Coast Guard in Seattle.
There are no signs of a spill at this point. First responders preventatively deployed three layers of containment boom around the ship to protect the surrounding marine environment, according to USCG. Three skimmers and boom boats are also on scene.
The heat from the fire caused an acetylene tank to explode just before 9 p.m. on Saturday night. The pressurized tank was generally used for welding. When the fire reached the tank, it combusted. There were no injuries or pollution linked to the explosion.
"Quite a few homes felt the explosion in the neighborhood," said Sarah Flood, who lives in Northeast Tacoma near Norpoint Park. She said it, "felt like a quick boom that rattled the house where I live. Some people thought maybe it was an earthquake at first."
The ship is carrying 55,000 gallons of diesel and 19,000 pounds of freon on board. The heat from the fire could cause pressure to build in the freon tanks, according to USCG. The tanks are equipped with heat-activated pressure relief valves designed to kick in in an emergency.
Though freon can be toxic if inhaled in a confined space or in large quantities, the freon released from the tanks into the atmosphere is not expected to be a health hazard, according to USCG.
The Environmental Protection Agency is monitoring the air quality in the surrounding areas with the help of contractors from CTEH, an environmental consulting firm.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Trident Seafoods said they would also launch an investigation into the blaze.
“We want to thank everyone for their prompt response and support,” said Joe Bundrant, CEO of Trident Seafoods on Sunday. “This has been a challenging containment issue and we appreciate the ongoing efforts over this Easter weekend.”
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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