LA Firefighters Battle Cargo Ship Blaze and Explosion

Firefighters in Los Angeles battled a persistent blaze on a cargo ship carrying hazardous materials at the Port of Los Angeles on Friday night, declaring a major emergency as the incident unfolded with an explosion that disrupted operations on the vessel.

The fire broke out around 6:38 p.m. local time on the 1,102-foot container ship One Henry Hudson, docked in the San Pedro area of the port, North America's busiest maritime hub. According to the Los Angeles Fire Department, the blaze began as an electrical fire below deck and quickly spread to several levels, including cargo containers. By about 7 p.m., the flames had intensified, prompting the evacuation of all 23 crew members. Officials initially reported difficulty locating six crew members, but by 8:30 p.m., the department confirmed that everyone had been safely accounted for, with no injuries reported.

An explosion occurred middeck shortly before 8 p.m., knocking out power to the ship's lights and cranes, which forced firefighters to operate in darkened conditions deep within the vessel. The Los Angeles Fire Department noted that hazardous materials were present in several affected cargo bays, leading to the deployment of...