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USCG, Stakeholders Respond to Whittier, AK Explosion, Dock Fire
Coast Guard crews have suspended the search for one
person missing after an explosion and subsequent fire at Delong
Dock in Whittier, Alaska, Monday.
An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station
Kodiak, forward deployed to Cordova, searched by air while crews
aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Chandeleur and Coast Guard
Auxiliary 336 also conducted a search for the missing person.
Shortly after midnight, Coast Guard Sector Anchorage
watchstanders heard the phrase "Whittier fire, Whittier fire"
over VHF Channel 16 and contacted Whittier dispatchers, who
confirmed there was a fire at Delong Dock. Several minutes later,
an Alaska Railroad security officer also reported the situation.
The explosion reportedly occurred on a fixed barge, and the fire
spread to the pier and then to the Alaganik, a 99-foot commercial
fishing vessel that was initially reported to have two people
aboard at the time of the explosion. Whittier Police Department
personnel have since confirmed one of those two is safely aboard
a different vessel en route to Whittier.
Sector watchstanders issued a Safety Marine Information Broadcast
that established a 100 yard safety zone to keep vessels a safe
distance from the fire while the crew of the Chandeleur launched
in response to help maintain the safety zone and conduct a
search.
By 2:50 a.m., Whittier Fire Department personnel confirmed the
fire extinguished.
The fishing vessel and barge sank in 85 feet of water at the pier
with a potential maximum of 5,500 gallons of fuel oil aboard. The
fishing vessel owners have contracted Global Diving and Salvage
for clean-up and salvage efforts.
Brian Hicks, Whittier Fire Department chief and the on-scene
commander, confirmed personnel from Whittier Fire Department,
Whittier Police Department, Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel Fire
Department and Girdwood Fire Department all involved in the
response, including crews aboard Tender 41 and Tender 42 from
Girdwood.
"The Coast Guard committed all available resources in conducting
this search effort," said Cmdr. Mark Kuperman, Coast Guard Sector
Anchorage deputy commander and the search-and-rescue mission
coordinator for the search. "Our thoughts are with the family and
friends who were impacted by this tragedy."
A Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew, the crew of the
Coast Guard Cutter Chandeleur and volunteers aboard Coast Guard
Auxiliary Boat 336 conducted the search across approximately 12
square miles over the course of 17 hours.
The Coast Guard has conducted a next of kin notification and
Coast Guard personnel have assumed lead in the National Safety
Transportation Board investigation into the cause of the
explosion.
Jul 9, 2019
