OAN’s Taylor Tinsley
2:12 PM – Thursday, July 6, 2023
Two New Jersey firefighters were killed Wednesday night as they battled a blaze on a cargo ship in Port Newark.
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Officials identified the fallen as 45-year old Agusto “Augie” Acabou and 49-year old Wayne Brooks. Both were from Engine 16.
The fire broke out on Wednesday night. Firefighters were still attempting to extinguish the blaze Thursday morning.
According to authorities, the fire erupted on the 10th floor of the 12 story cargo ship and made its way to the top. The vessel was carrying an estimated 5,000 vehicles that were going to be refurbished and sold overseas.
Multiple vehicles were already on fire by the time firefighters arrived. Teams heroically rushed in. Sometime after, a mayday call went out saying Acabou had died.
Despite being under extreme conditions, Acabou’s brothers and sisters of the Newark Fire Department refused to leave him behind and made multiple efforts to bring him out.
“They were able to bring Firefighter Acabou out,” said Chief Rufus Jackson of the Newark Fire Department. “Then, we had another mayday, which was Firefighter Wayne Brooks.”
Five other firefighters, three from Newark, suffered injuries including heat exhaustion, burned feet, and respiratory distress. One remained hospitalized with critical injures as of Thursday afternoon.
Mayor Ras Baraka (D-N.J.) said, “I saw the kind of acts of bravery and comradery that’s unparalleled. It’s very very very traumatic for all of us here in the city of Newark and we ask everybody to pray.”
The fire chief noted that Newark firefighters were trained to fight blazes on cruise ships or other vessels, but not for ones that contain vehicles.
Investigators are working to determine what caused the fire.
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