On Friday night, a significant fire broke out on the container ship One Henry Hudson, docked at the Port of Los Angeles, prompting an extensive response from emergency services. The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) reported that the fire appears to have started below deck, presumably due to an electrical fault. Fortunately, all 23 crew members on board were accounted for, and there were no reported injuries from the incident.
By 7 PM, the blaze had escalated, spreading through multiple levels of the vessel, which is 1,102 feet (336 meters) long and operated by Singapore-based One Ocean Express. The situation worsened when an explosion occurred mid-deck, raising the stakes for the firefighting efforts. With the ship carrying hazardous materials, more than 100 firefighters were deployed to the scene to contain the fire and mitigate risks to public safety.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass confirmed the scale of the emergency, noting that the port, the busiest in North America, was experiencing a major incident. LAFD crews specialized in hazardous materials monitored the air quality during their firefighting efforts. As a precautionary measure, the fire department issued an alert around midnight advising nearby residents to stay indoors and close all windows and doors until further notice.
The vessel had recently made stops in Japan before arriving in Los Angeles, having visited cities like Kobe, Nagoya, and Tokyo. The LAFD described the situation as a “major emergency,” underlining the potential dangers associated with the ship’s cargo.
Emergency responders worked diligently to control the fire, with ongoing assessments and interventions to ensure the safety of the crew and the surrounding community. As of the latest updates, the cause of the fire remained undetermined, and the situation was still developing.
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