Fire Aboard ONE Henry Hudson Triggers Large-Scale Emergency at Port of Los Angeles

Photographer: Wolfgang Fricke - ShipSpotting.com

A significant fire aboard the 8,212-TEU container vessel ONE Henry Hudson prompted a massive emergency response at the Port of Los Angeles late Friday, leading authorities to issue a temporary shelter-in-place order for surrounding neighbourhoods as crews battled the blaze.

Blaze Began Below Deck, Followed by Explosion

The fire was first detected below deck at around 6:38 p.m., with early indications pointing to an electrical malfunction as the cause. The flames spread rapidly through lower compartments, and a mid-deck explosion knocked out the ship’s internal power systems — disabling lighting and halting crane operations during the initial response phase.

Nearly 200 Firefighters, HazMat Teams Deployed

The incident triggered one of the port’s most significant coordinated responses in recent years. Nearly 200 firefighters were deployed in a combined land-and-water operation, supported by multiple fireboats attacking the blaze from the harbour side.

Because hazardous materials were identified in several container bays, HazMat teams continuously monitored air quality throughout the night to ensure nearby communities were not exposed to toxic fumes.

Crew Evacuated, No Injuries Reported

All 23 crew members aboard the ONE Henry Hudson were safely evacuated, and officials confirmed that no injuries occurred during the incident.

Vessel Moved Offshore for Continued Operations

By early Saturday, tugboats repositioned the ship to an anchorage near Angel’s Gate Lighthouse, allowing firefighters to continue containment and cooling work away from critical port infrastructure.

The shelter-in-place advisory was lifted shortly after, and four of the port’s seven container terminals have since returned to normal operations.

Authorities say the investigation into the cause of the fire and explosion is ongoing.