Feature Image: © BBC
Fire services have extinguished a major blaze on board a cargo ship at a Hull (UK) dock following an accident.
Firefighters from Humberside Fire and Rescue Service responded to a blaze at Albert Dock around 10:20 am on 27 June. The fire had broken out in a cargo hold carrying 3,500 tonnes of scrap metal, reported the BBC.
Crews worked through the night and managed to extinguish the fire by 5:00 am on 28 June, and they remained at the scene as a pre-emptive measure to mitigate risks of reignition.
An investigation into the cause of the fire is expected to continue over the coming days.
“The investigation is ongoing, but we’re looking at an accidental cause. It was a deep-seated fire and a challenging day, but one with a successful outcome,” said the service’s Glyn Saunders.
Following the extinguishing, the fire service spokesperson warned locals that they “may still see wisps of steam from the dock as part of the cooling process.”
At the peak of the incident, the response involved five fire engines, an aerial platform, and specialist marine-trained fire crews working to bring the blaze under control.
READ: Oil tanker and cargo ship on fire after North Sea collision
The BBC identified the vessel at the centre of the fire as the Altay, a bulk carrier docked in Hull since 23 June.
Strong winds during the fire pushed smoke toward Hull city centre, prompting police to temporarily close several key areas. Closures were lifted later in the evening.
The smoke disruption also led to the temporary closure of Hull Combined Court and Hull Magistrates’ Court, with cases either adjourned or moved to virtual hearings.
