Two Newark firefighters died in a fire on a cargo ship in Port Newark Wednesday night. A total of five other members were also injured, according to the most recent information.
The fallen firefighters were identified as Wayne Brooks Jr., 49, and Augusto “Augie” Acabou, 45, both veterans of the Newark (NJ) Fire Department, according to a press conference held Thursday at 10 a.m.
The fire broke out around 9:30 p.m. Wednesday at Export Street and Marsh Street in Newark. Firefighters responded and launched an interior attack on the vessel, the Grande Costa d’Avorio, which contained 5,000 automobiles.
The fire started with five to seven vehicles on the 12th story on the cargo ship, ABC 7 reports.
Intense heat forced firefighters to back away from the fire and several firefighters got trapped, triggering multiple Maydays.
Firefighters from as far away as New York City, which sent its special rescue team, assisted in recovering the bodies of the two lost firefighters.
Fire operations continued overnight and into the morning at the ship as of 10 a.m., with units from the Fire Department of New York (FDNY), Bayonne, Union, North Hudson, Elizabeth, Millburn, and numerous other agencies involved in the response.
Via the U.S. Fire Administration, at approximately 9:23 p.m. on Wednesday, July 5, 2023, members of the Newark Fire Department responded to a fire on the Grande Costa D’Avorio Cargo Ship that was docked at Port Newark, New Jersey. Firefighters were fighting the fire on the 10th, 11th, and 12th decks. They made an attempt to extinguish the fire but got pushed back by the intense heat. As they backed out, Firefighter Augusto Acabou and Firefighter Wayne “Bears” Brooks, Jr. became lost and disorientated in the smoke. A Mayday was called and a search effort was launched. They were rescued and immediately rushed to the hospital. Both Firefighter Acabou and Firefighter Brooks were pronounced deceased shortly after arrival. Five firefighters were also injured during this incident. Mutual aid was provided by the New Jersey Urban Search and Rescue, New Jersey Urban Area Security Initiative, the U.S. Coast Guard, FDNY, and numerous other departments. The entire crew of the ship were accounted for.
NJ.com: 2 firefighters killed battling cargo ship fire in Newark
