A significant fire aboard the container ship One Henry Hudson, docked at the Port of Los Angeles, was nearly under control by Saturday afternoon. Authorities are still evaluating whether the burning of hazardous materials has caused substantial environmental contamination. The blaze, which erupted on Friday night, led to a temporary shelter-in-place order for nearby communities due to fears of airborne hazardous substances. The order was lifted by morning, and the ship was moved offshore, where fireboats continued to douse a small section still ablaze, according to Los Angeles Fire Department spokesperson Adam Van Gerpen.
The fire, believed to be electrical in origin, started below deck and spread to multiple levels, causing a mid-deck explosion. Approximately 100 cargo containers, some containing lithium-ion batteries and other hazardous waste, were burned. However, it remains unclear which specific materials were affected. All 23 crew members were safely accounted for, and no injuries were reported.
A safety zone of half a nautical mile and a temporary flight restriction were established around the vessel. Port operations resumed by morning, and over 100 firefighters were deployed to combat the blaze at North America’s busiest seaport. The 1,102-foot (336-meter) ship is operated by Ocean Network Express, headquartered in Singapore. The company expressed gratitude to first responders and pledged full cooperation with investigations. The ship had previously docked in Japan, stopping in Kobe, Nagoya, and Tokyo before arriving in Los Angeles.