Breaking News: Approximately 100 Containers Damaged! Container Ship Catches Fire and Explodes at the Port of Los Angeles, USA

According to the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) and port officials, an electrical fire broke out suddenly in the lower deck of the container ship ONE HENRY HUDSON on the evening of November 21 local time. The incident triggered an explosion on the vessel, forcing multiple container terminals at the Port of Los Angeles to suspend operations temporarily.

With a capacity of 8,212 TEU, the container ship departed Tokyo, Japan, and arrived at the Port of Los Angeles on November 19 local time.

Following the fire, multiple agencies—including the LAFD, Long Beach Fire Department, Los Angeles County Fire Department, U.S. Coast Guard, California Office of Emergency Services, and Port Police—responded swiftly to the scene and established a Unified Command center.

Due to the fire spreading across multiple enclosed compartments in the lower deck, firefighters faced significant challenges accessing the affected areas. As temperatures inside the compartments continued to rise and hazardous materials (hazmat) sections were impacted, the command center ordered a full evacuation of all personnel from the vessel at one point, relying solely on high-volume water cannons from outside to maintain fire control.

Per the ship's declared manifest, the affected compartments contained hazmat containers, some of which may have held lithium-ion batteries and other hazardous waste. Firefighting crews conducted continuous air monitoring at the scene. While smoke plume readings remained within normal limits, the command center, out of an abundance of caution, issued a Shelter-in-Place order for the San Pedro and Wilmington neighborhoods, instructing residents to close doors and windows and shut down their HVAC systems.

Multiple reports indicate that roughly 100 containers sustained varying degrees of damage. LAFD spokesperson Van Gerpen stated that many of these containers were carrying hazardous cargo.

With assistance from Port Police and U.S. Customs officers, all 23 crew members were safely evacuated, and no casualties were reported. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Fire authorities noted that the blaze was initially sparked by an electrical fire in the lower deck, though the exact ignition point remains undetermined.

Shipping schedule data also reveals that the ONE HENRY HUDSON involved in the incident was operated by Ocean Network Express (ONE), with slot-sharing partners including CMA CGM, HMM, OOCL, COSCO Shipping, Evergreen Marine, and Yang Ming Marine Transport Corporation.

In its latest announcement on November 22, the Port of Los Angeles confirmed that the fire on board had been largely brought under control. Firefighting teams and crew members continued fire suppression efforts. Shelter-in-Place orders and work restrictions at the port were lifted, and port operations resumed that morning. State Route 47 was reopened, with traffic flowing normally again.