Washington
Unified command responds to vessel fire in Tacoma, Washington | US EPA
Unified command responds to vessel fireplace in Tacoma, Washington
SEATTLE (April 9, 2023) — The Tacoma Fireplace Division, the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Environmental Safety Company, the Washington Division of Ecology and different companies are persevering with their response to the fishing vessel, Kodiak Enterprise, that caught fireplace early Saturday morning whereas moored at Trident Seafoods within the Hylebos Waterway in Tacoma.
The hearth has progressed all through the ship and was final reported roughly 100 ft from the vessel’s freon tanks.
The vessel is reported to have an estimated 55,000 gallons of diesel and 19,000 kilos of freon onboard. The warmth from the fireplace could cause stress to construct within the freon tanks.
The freon tanks are designed with built-in heat-activated stress reduction valves that are designed to launch the freon tanks’ stress in an emergency state of affairs. Whereas freon may be poisonous if inhaled in massive portions or in a confined area, the discharge of freon into the ambiance will not be anticipated to pose any well being and security dangers to the general public.
As a precautionary measure, the EPA has been conducting air monitoring to evaluate air high quality within the surrounding areas. Right this moment they’re being augmented by contractors from CTEH to additional refine air monitoring capabilities.
To make sure the security of the general public, the Metropolis of Tacoma Fireplace Division in coordination with the US Coast Guard and Washington Division of Ecology are issuing a short lived shelter in place order for NE Tacoma, Browns Level and Sprint Level neighborhoods. Folks within the aforementioned areas ought to stay indoors and restrict exposures to smoke.
As well as, the Coast Guard has closed the Hylebos Waterway for all industrial and leisure vessel visitors by way of a Vessel Visitors Service particular measure. The Coast Guard has deployed the Coast Guard Cutter Osprey and Station Seattle to implement the closure.
“The security of the general public and responders is our prime precedence,” mentioned Coast Guard Capt. Youngmee Moon, the Federal On Scene Coordinator. “The unified command is working carefully to leverage every company’s capabilities to reply to this incident as successfully as attainable and preserve the general public secure.”
Responders proceed to struggle the fireplace by offering cooling spray to the outside of the vessel.
There aren’t any reported indicators of maritime air pollution. As a safety measure, responders have deployed 3 layers of containment growth across the vessel to guard the marine surroundings. As a precautionary measure the unified command has deployed 3 skimmers and three growth boats.
The reason for the incident is underneath investigation. Extra updates can be launched as they grow to be obtainable.
“We need to thank everybody for his or her immediate response and help,” mentioned Joe Bundrant, CEO of Trident Seafoods. “This has been a difficult containment situation and we recognize the continued efforts over this Easter weekend.”
The Joint Info Heart may be reached for questions at 206-605-4840 or 206-819-9154.