By: Richard L. Smith
Tragedy struck the city of Newark when a massive fire broke out onboard a large cargo ship at Port Newark Wednesday night, resulting in the loss of two brave firefighters.
As the investigation continues, questions arise regarding the lack of training provided to Newark firefighters to combat fires of this magnitude at the nation's second-largest and busiest Ports, according to Marine Insight.
Newark Fire Chief Rufus Jackson expressed his deep sorrow and revealed that the firefighters involved in this incident were not adequately trained to handle fires of this nature.
He emphasized that the department lacked the specific training required to battle fires onboard large cargo ships like the one that engulfed multiple cars at Port Newark.
In response to inquiries, a spokesperson for the Port Authority explained that firefighting at non-airport facilities falls under the jurisdiction of the municipality where the facility is located.
"While the Port Authority offers support and assistance, including classroom and on-site shipboard orientation training to fire department personnel and first responders, it is ultimately the responsibility of the local municipality."
In this apparent situation, Newark Firefighters were given proper training to do the job.
During Wednesday's Press conference held outside Newark Police Headquarters, Mayor Baraka expressed skepticism about the Port Authority's limited capacity in this case, requiring Newark to assume full command of the scene.
He stated that the Port Authority has a small crew trained to fight smaller fires, but when confronted with larger, structural fires like the one at Port Newark Wednesday, they always rely on the Newark Fire Department for 'support.'
The Port Authority's stance on the matter reiterated that firefighting at non-airport facilities falls under the jurisdiction of the respective municipalities. However, the question from Newark residents remains: why weren't Newark firefighters adequately trained to battle fires at the second-largest/busiest Ports in the United States?
Newark Fire Chief Rufus Jackson acknowledged the uniqueness of this fire's circumstances. He stated that the department had previously conducted shipboard firefighting training, but it primarily focused on vessels with living quarters and various compartments.
This tragic incident involved a cargo ship, posing distinct challenges and requiring specialized training.
Mayor Baraka said that the Grande Costa d'Avori, inbound from Baltimore, carried over 5000 vehicles. This included vans, other rolling equipment, and 157 cargo containers.
The devastating consequences of the fire were evident when two courageous firefighters, Augusto Acabou, 45, and Wayne Brooks Jr., 49, lost their lives while bravely battling the blaze. Their sacrifice is a stark reminder of the risks firefighters face in protecting their communities.
Residents around Newark said moving forward, the need for comprehensive training for Newark firefighters to effectively respond to fires onboard large cargo ships cannot be understated.
"The city and relevant authorities must work together to ensure that the necessary training and resources are provided to prevent such tragedies in the future," residents continued.
To alleviate the obvious "hot potato" notion that briefly had Newark City officials engaged in 'not-on-us' words with Port Authority, Newark Public Safety Director Fritz Fragé said the responsibility rests with each public entity involved.
"It's always the collaborative efforts of all the agencies to do a job and at the end of the day, we're going to review and analyze how we did," Fragé said.
As investigations into the cause of the fire and its circumstances continue, a thorough review of the training protocols for Newark firefighters must occur.