8 Firefighters Injured By Explosion While Battling Cargo Ship Fire

While battling a large fire aboard a cargo ship at Blount Island, the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department said an explosion occurred, injuring firefighters.

According to Fire Chief Keith Powers, eight firefighters were injured in the explosion, and an additional firefighter was treated for heat exhaustion. During a news briefing at 10:15 p.m., Powers said the eight firefighters hurt in the blast were in stable condition.

“It’s a tough situation and very dangerous -- that’s one of the most dangerous situations firefighters encounter is when they’re in a ship fire,” Powers said.

Crews with the U.S. Coast Guard were seen in the river late at night spraying the ship with water along the exterior of the hull.

Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry asked for prayers from the Jacksonville community. According to Powers, the fire started on the seventh deck of the ship.
At about 6:30 p.m., firefighters closed the ship’s dampers to starve the fire of oxygen. Shortly after, the explosion occurred.