A 2019 marine fire on the Detroit River has identified potential issues with the readiness of firefighters when it comes to marine emergencies, according to a new report from the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB).
The TSB issued its report on that fire Tuesday, and it pointed out the likelihood of some marine rescue operations not being adequate at Canadian ports.
Fire broke out on the bulk carrier Tecumseh off Zug Island on the Michigan side of the river on December 15, 2019.
The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) cutter Bristol Bay was diverted to the scene and a 45-foot response boat was launched from the USCG station on Belle Isle, along with an MH-65 helicopter dispatched from Air Station Detroit.
The stricken boat drifted into Canadian waters, and the crew of 16 was safely disembarked and checked by Essex-Windsor EMS. There were no reports of injuries.
Original reports indicated that firefighters could extinguish the fire when they boarded the ship. However, the report pointed out issues with the fire suppression system used.
"The crew attempted to extinguish the fire with the carbon dioxide fixed fire suppression system," read the report. "The investigation found that the onboard fire originated following the failure of a flexible fuel hose assembly supplying fuel to the port [left] main engine. Approximately three hours after the fire suppression system was activated, two crew members entered the engine room to determine if the fire was still spreading. This re-entry allowed fresh air to enter the engine room, which most likely reignited the fire."
The TSB reported that the Tecumseh was towed to the Port of Windsor on December 16. It was soon determined that the onshore resources at that location did not have the proper training in marine firefighting.
"As a consequence, these responders remained on shore providing shore-based boundary cooling while awaiting the arrival of marine-trained firefighters, who arrived approximately two hours later. The fire was subsequently extinguished later that same day," read the report.
The TSB issued a recommendation in 1996 that fire crews based onshore be given the ability to help marine firefighters in emergencies. The recommendation was closed in 2016 after strides were made in that area, though the problem was not eliminated.
"The investigation also identified a number of shortcomings within the operator’s safety management system with regard to fire response, including that the fire training manual on board was not specific to the vessel, and so vessel-specific information was not available for use in training on actual equipment on board, such as the CO2 system; and there was no emergency preparedness plan on board to guide the crew in the fire response actions, such as when to close the ventilation flaps and dampers," read the report.
The complete investigation report is available on the TSB's official website.