Jacksonville, FL — NIne Jacksonville firefighters were hospitalized following a fire and explosion on board a cargo ship at Blount Island. JFRD has said this is an auto hauler with more than 2,000 salvaged and wrecked vehicles on board.
Around 150 JFRD personnel were working on this fire, according to the fire department. Crews began fight the fire around 4 p.m. on Thursday. JFRD said crews are working to save the integrity of the outside of the cargo ship to help contain any pollution from getting into the ocean.
“The ones that obviously went to Gainesville to the burn unit down there, they’re gonna have a long road ahead of them. They had some significant burns, especially couple of them really bad in their hand area which is extremely difficult to heal from because of the movement and the dexterity in the hand”, Fire Chief Keith Powers told Jacksonville’s Morning News on Friday.
nThe Coast Guard brought marine firefighters to help with this cargo ship fire, JFRD said. The fire department said the ship was being loaded with cars to be shipped out. Records show the ship was built in 2010 and sails under the flag of Norway. The cargo ship was last ported in Freeport, Texas.
The U.S. Coast Guard says all 21 crew members were able to get safely off the cargo ship.
Firefighters injured battling flames aboard cargo ship. Per @JFRDJAX:
— Beth Rousseau (@BethANJax) June 5, 2020
• 2 flown to Shands in Gainesville
• 2 transported on ground
• 4 at @UFHealthJax (1 surgery, 1 ICU, 2 trauma floor)
• 1 treated for heat exhaustion @ActionNewsJax @WOKVNews pic.twitter.com/HOUouKFbFr
THIS MORNING | 9 @JFRDJAX firefighters are recovering from injuries sustained while battling fire aboard this cargo ship. The response underway and resources on the way to #Jax -- AT 5:30 on @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/yPHsuuKW19
— Beth Rousseau (@BethANJax) June 5, 2020
We are thinking of our brothers and sisters with @JFRDJAX tonight.
— Jax Sheriff's Office (@JSOPIO) June 5, 2020
Several firefighters have been injured after an explosion at a ship fire. ❤️🖤 https://t.co/6orkAxAQOz
This likely will be days... not hours.
— MyJFRD (@JFRDJAX) June 5, 2020
— MyJFRD (@JFRDJAX) June 4, 2020
— MyJFRD (@JFRDJAX) June 4, 2020
There has been an explosion on the ship... firefighters are hurt... this od now an MCI level I
— MyJFRD (@JFRDJAX) June 4, 2020
Join me in prayer for our Jax Fire Rescue 1st responders as medical pros treat them.
— Lenny Curry (@lennycurry) June 4, 2020
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