Two firefighters in Port Newark, New Jersey, lost their lives while battling a fire on a cargo ship. 

The blaze erupted on the Grande Costa D’Avorio vessel, sparking a desperate search for the missing firefighters. 

Upon arriving at the scene around 9:30 pm on Wednesday, July 5, firefighters encountered a raging inferno on the 10th floor of the ship, with five to seven cars already engulfed in flames. The fire quickly spread to the 11th and 12th floors, forcing firefighters to retreat due to the intense heat. 

Newark Fire Chief Rufus Jackson confirmed the heartbreaking news during a press conference, revealing that the two firefighters had been found inside the ship and could not be saved. They have been identified as Augusto Acabou, 45, and Wayne Brooks Jr, 49. 

Smoke and flames billowed from the ship, casting a somber atmosphere around the port. In response to the devastating incident, rescue companies from across the state were summoned to assist in the search and recovery efforts. 

Mayor Ras Baraka expressed his grief, emphasizing the tragic nature of the event for both the city of Newark and the firefighting community as a whole. 

The Grande Costa D’Avorio, constructed in 2011, had arrived from the Port of Baltimore several days earlier. The cause of the fire and the number of people on board at the time remain unknown. The US Coast Guard confirmed the safety of the remaining crew members. Shipboard firefighting presents unique challenges, and the Newark firefighters showcased their dedication and bravery in confronting this formidable situation. 

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but sources at ABC News indicated that the firefighters’ equipment was incompatible with the European ship’s fire suppression systems. The firefighters also were not experienced in fighting fires on cargo boats, a source said.

The ship was loaded with approximately 5,000 used cars to be sold overseas.

The Grimaldi Group, an Italian company headquartered in Naples, acknowledged ownership of the ship. 

The fire continued to rage until it was finally extinguished in the early hours of the following day, at the cost of two lives lost and five injured firefighters.