A New York City fireboat continues to pour water on the blaze on Thursday July 6, 2023, in Newark, N.J. (Andrew Mills)
(Tribune News Service) — Thick, black smoke continued to pour from a cargo ship in Port Newark on Friday, more than a day after two firefighters were killed fighting the intense blaze that tore through several decks of the vessel.
Explosions could be heard coming from the ship, as the vessel continued to rust and blacken from the flames.
Thermal images taken by an Elizabeth Police Department drone Thursday showed the fire continuing to burn inside the ship as smoke rose from the top level of the the Grande Costa D’avorio, berthed near Export and Marsh streets in Newark.
Newark firefighters Augusto “Augie” Acabou, 45, and Wayne “Bear” Brooks Jr., 49, died after they were trapped aboard the 692-foot long ship Wednesday night.
The Newark Firefighters Union said they will hold a press conference Friday to discuss the lives and legacies Acabou and Brooks, who were veteran first responders.
The U.S. Coast Guard, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Newark Fire Department and Gallagher Marine Systems, the operator of the cargo ship, were planning Friday to hold a news conference in Elizabeth Friday morning to provide updates on the firefighting efforts.
The ship was carrying 1,200 vehicles when it caught fire about 9:38 p.m. Wednesday. Firefighters from Newark, Elizabeth and numerous other municipalities fought the fire. In addition to the two deaths, five other firefighters were injured but were expected to survive.
Video from the scene on Friday showed smoke and flames billowing from the top deck of the ship. ABC-7 reported the fire was being prolonged by gas and oil inside the cars on the ship that continue to fuel the fire.
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka said during a press conference Thursday that firefighters did not have adequate training or equipment to fight a fire aboard a towering ship.
Newark officials said the fire got out of hand because the initial efforts to contain it were begun with small diameter hoses that could not bring enough water to the decks where the fire was already raging.
©2023 Advance Local Media LLC.
Visit nj.com.
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
