ALEUTIAN FALCON

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Interior still burning

The fierce fire on the 'Aleutian Falcon' at the Port of Tacoma was still burning in the interior of the vessel on Feb 19. Responders were able to enter the interior and suppress the fire in the bow and stern. Crews were still working to remove water in an effort not to overload the vessel. Approximately 2,500 gallons of water were removed by a vacuum truck, and there were other vacuum trucks assisting in the removal of the water. The ship was listing from the water used to fight the fire, but that has since been corrected. No concerning chemicals have been detected, and particulate remained at background levels as they continue to monitor the air quality. Crews were monitoring a light oil sheen outside of the oil boom boom. The Tacoma fire crews have been demobilized, and the command has shifted to a unified command, consisting of ecology, the USCG and Trident. Report with photo: https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/interior-tacoma-commercial-fishing-boat-still-burning/74TTGQVTIZBCNIBZDG3ROAYMAY/

Fire still burning

The fire which started near the 400 block of East Alexander off Marine View Drive in Tacoma on Feb 17 around 10:30 p.m. continued to burn in the afternoon of Feb 18. As of 8:10 a.m., the fire was still burning, but contained. The ship is now listing from water used to fight the fire and could sink or roll, spilling fuel and chemicals into the water. It has 9,800 pounds of ammonia on board that’s used for fish freezers. Crews focused on keeping the hull cool, where the ammonia is kept, to prevent the chemicals from catching fire. There were also at least 48,000 gallons of diesel fuel on the ship. Booms were placed around the vessel. The Coast Guard is watching for spills and the Department of Ecology was notified. The Coast Guard issued a 1,500-yard safety zone as the fire continued to burn. An oil barge remained behind the ship during the fire. Report with photos and video: https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/crews-battle-massive-fire-tacoma-commercial-fishing-boat-hours/YBPKEDCCP5H6VOCKJO63JHVEOA/

Trawler on fire

The 'Aleutian Falcon' caught fire on Feb 17, around 11 p.m., and the Tacoma Fire Department sent firefighters to the berth at Trident Seafoods on Pier 12. The fireboat 'Destiny' and several engines were fighting the blaze. The West Pierce fireboat 'Endeavor' joined about 11:45 p.m. and the Tacoma fireboat 'Defiance' on Feb 18 at 1 a.m. Two large plumes of black smoke were emerging from the ship and towering flames amidships. At midnight, the ship was listing heavily. The fire department has requested response from the U.S. Coast Guard and the state Department of Ecology. As of 11:56 p.m., the crews have taken a defensive strategy as conditions were too unsafe for firefighters to board the vessel. The fireboat 'Destiny' and the West Pierce fireboat 'Endeavor' continued to use master streams to apply water. Foss tugs were assisting the firefighters in moving other vessels in danger from the fire. One of them, the 'Constitution', was cut loose from the pier and towed into Commencement Bay. The TFD requested help from the Seattle fireboat Leschi, which got underway but was still two hours out when the request was canceled about 12:30 a.m. There were 9,800 pounds of ammonia stored near the stern of the 'Aleutian Falcon'. Fireboats were directing water to keep the fire away from that area. There was also concern about an oil barge moored near the bow of the vessel, and the tug 'Wendell Foss' was working to pull it clear. The fire site was protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. By 1 a.m. firefighters were reporting several large cracks in the steel hull of the ship, and commanders shifted strategy to cooling the hull. Flames from inside the ship were issuing from one of the cracks and threatening the dock. All three fireboats directed their aim to the hull at about three feet about dock level. The fire continued to burn fiercely deep inside the hull, and the list became so strong that some crews were pulled back from the dock. Report with photos: https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/article249332325.html#storylink=cpy