A fire aboard the One Henry Hudson prompted a complete evacuation and a large multi-agency operation at the Port of Los Angeles on 21 November. The Panama-flagged container ship was later taken beyond the breakwater after officials confirmed the fire had been substantially contained.
Crew members notified the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) of an electrical fire below deck while the vessel was berthed at the Yusen Container Terminal. All 23 crew members were accounted for, and no injuries were reported. After the incident was reported, the port temporarily suspended operations at four of its seven terminals.
Responders from the LAFD, Long Beach Fire Department, Los Angeles Port Police, and the U.S. Coast Guard were deployed. Residents in San Pedro and Wilmington were advised to remain indoors with windows closed due to air-quality concerns, and a shelter-in-place order was issued.
More than 100 firefighters initially worked to contain the fire before staffing increased to nearly 200 personnel. Specialized units—Heavy Rescue, HazMat, USAR, Fire Boats, and Air Operations—were also assigned. Some crew members initially helped responders reach the lower decks, though incident command instructed firefighting personnel not to enter those spaces. The LAFD confirmed an explosion at 7:58 p.m., which disrupted lighting and crane functions onboard.
City and state officials monitored the event, with the office of California Governor Gavin Newsom stating that agencies were coordinating to support first responders and protect surrounding communities.
Unified Command began the undocking operation at 3:00 a.m. on 22 November, maintaining fire suppression and structural and air-monitoring activities throughout the maneuver. By 4:43 a.m., the vessel was anchored at Grid G4, approximately one mile off Angel’s Gate Lighthouse.
Authorities reported that port operations had resumed and that traffic along State Route 47 had returned to normal. With the vessel relocated offshore, the shelter-in-place order for San Pedro and Wilmington was lifted. Unified Command said fire suppression efforts continued, and Capt. Jarrod DeWitz stated that partner agencies worked together to ensure crew safety, move the vessel offshore, and avoid disruption to port activity.
