2 New Jersey Firefighters Died Battling a Blaze Deep in a Ship Carrying 5,000 Cars

2 New Jersey Firefighters Died Battling a Blaze Deep in a Ship Carrying 5,000 Cars
In this image taken from video, smoke rises from a cargo ship in the port of Newark, N.J., on July 6, 2023. WABC-TV via AP
The Associated Press
Updated:
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NEWARK, N.J.—Two firefighters were killed battling a blaze that began when cars caught fire deep inside a cargo ship carrying 5,000 cars at a New Jersey port, Newark’s fire chief said Thursday.

Responding firefighters found five to seven vehicles already on fire when they reached the 10th floor of the cargo ship at Port Newark around 9:30 p.m. Wednesday night. The blaze quickly extended to the 11th and 12th floors, and as firefighters were pushed back by the intense heat, two of them were lost, Fire Chief Rufus Jackson said at a news conference.