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Port of Los Angeles Container Ship Fire Leads to Overnight Shelter-in-Place, Hazardous Materials Concerns
LOS ANGELES – An electrical fire aboard a container ship at the Port of Los Angeles prompted an overnight shelter-in-place order Saturday, drawing a massive response from over 100 firefighters and raising concerns about hazardous materials.
The blaze, which erupted below deck on the One Henry Hudson on Friday, left all 23 crew members accounted for and uninjured, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. Officials confirmed the presence of hazardous materials on the vessel, though the exact cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Mayor Karen Bass issued a shelter-in-place order for surrounding areas, including San Pedro and Wilmington, just before 3 a.m., advising residents to “remain at home, keep windows closed and turn off HVAC systems.” The U.S. Coast Guard also established a one-nautical-mile safety zone around the ship.
The fire reportedly spread across multiple levels of the 1,102-foot-long vessel, operated by Singapore-headquartered One Ocean Express, and even led to a mid-deck explosion. The One Henry Hudson had recently visited Japanese ports in Kobe, Nagoya, and Tokyo before arriving in Los Angeles, North America’s busiest seaport.
One Ocean Express has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the incident.