MEC&F Expert Engineers : FIRE ON BOARD FISH PROCESSING VESSEL JUNO

Sunday, March 15, 2015

FIRE ON BOARD FISH PROCESSING VESSEL JUNO






Executive Summary
In the early morning hours on Saturday, December 28, 2013, the 138-foot-long fish processing vessel Juno caught fire while moored at its pier in Westport, Washington. Shoreside firefighters extinguished the blaze, which caused extensive damage. The master received minor injuries, and no pollution was reported as a result of the fire.

Probable Cause
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause of the fire on the fish processing vessel Juno was a space heater that experienced an electrical fault (short circuit). Contributing to the extent of the fire’s damage was the improper stowage of flammable materials near the heater. Also contributing was the vessel’s lack of structural fire protection and use of combustible materials in interior finishes.