By Walter Elliott
NEWARK – Although the six day old fire on the Grande Costa D’Avorio here at Port Newark has been declared out as of 1 p.m. July 11, the investigation on what caused the car carrying container ship’s fire is just beginning.
Mourning for Newark firefighters Augusto “Augie” Acabou, 45, and Wayne “Bear” Brooks, Jr., 49, however, is just beginning. Although their Funeral Masses have been scheduled to be respectively held at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart on July 12-14, their loss will be felt long after any report’s recommendations are implemented.
Acabou and Brooks, who had 25 years’ firefighting experience between them, were declared dead at the scene while scores of their colleagues from Newark, Elizabeth, Jersey City, Bayonne and New York City battled the blaze on three of the Grimaldi Deep Sea vessel’s 12 decks since 9:30 p.m. July 5.
The stubborn blaze also injured three Newark firefighters, two of them captains, and two Elizabeth firefighters. All five were released from local hospitals by July 8.
U.S. Coast Guard Port Commander Capt. Zeita Merchant, in the presence of Port Authority of New York and New Jersey officials, declared the fire as being out on the Italian-registered ship at 1 p.m. Tuesday press conference.
“While this is a huge milestone, we must not lose sight of the fact that this is merely the first step of a long process,” said Merchant. “We now need to consider the salvage and transfer of the vessel, a process that can be hazardous and complex.”
Salvaging the ship may take up to two months. The work includes unloading 157 on deck cargo containers onto the port and the rolling off or pulling out of over 1,200 motor vehicles topside and below the ship’s decks. Many of those vehicles were fire, debris and/or water damaged.
Some of the said vehicles had their fuel tanks and tires explode from the fire and heat. Their popping sounds were frequently heard until the fire was contained to the 11th deck July 8. Grimaldi meanwhile presented the ship’s manifest, showing that no lithium ion batteries or dangerous chemicals were on board.
Then there is the matter of inspecting the 692-foot-long ship for its extent of damage. The fire had broken through exterior hull walls above its water line.
There is also the unclogging of debris from some of the water vent pots. Some of those vent ports were blocked which, with added water having nowhere to go, caused the ship to list up to four degrees by July 7. opening lower level vents July 8 helped brighten the vessel, keeping it away from a five-degree list that could have capsized the ship.
Inspectors of the United Command are meanwhile waiting to start their probe on what caused the fire, what worked and what caused Acabou and Brooks’ deaths and the five injuries. The United Command – made up of Coast Guard, Port Authority, Newark Fire and Gallagher Marine Systems coordinated the firefighting.
“Their selfless sacrifice is on the minds of all here,” said Merchant as chief coordinator of Acabou and Brooks. “We’ll absolutely never forget their acts of courage and bravery in response to this fire.”
Flags in Newark, its fire stations and across the state were lowered to half-staff when the deaths of Brooks and Acabou were announced July 6. Gov. Phil Murphy declared all flags to be lowered later that Thursday. President Joe Biden called the families the same day.
Makeshift shrines started to grow in front of Acabou and Brooks’ respective firehouses — Engine 16 on Ferry Street and Engine 7/Ladder 4 on Elm Road in The Ironbound. Some 30 people – family and colleagues – crowded into the Newark Firefighters Union headquarters on Murray Street Noon Friday to talk about the quality of their loss.
NFD Capt. Carlos Henriques, who is also Acabou’s cousin, recalled his uncle doing “little things for the people in his life.” They included the East Side High School football player helping out an assistant coach during the latter’s cancer treatments.
“He would run errands and provide support for him during his treatments,” said Henriques of the nine-year firefighter. “We only learned about that last week. When it came to Augie, there wasn’t a bad bone in his body.”
Wife Michelle Brooks and daughters Taylor and Daisa said that Wayne Brooks, Jr. was called “Bear” for two reasons. Brooks was an NFL Chicago Bears fan.
“Bear” was also large and tended to embrace his daughters with both arms. Taylor and Daisa also called their father “Two Arms.”
The 17-year NFD member, who was St. Benedict’s High School 1992 fencing champion, was known to mentor newer firefighters.
Acabou and Brooks responded with their crews when an on-ship fire call came in at 9:25 p.m. July 5. They were among those who were told that several cars on the ship’s 10th deck had caught fire and that the blaze had spread to the 12th deck.
The Grande Costa D’Avorio, which came from Baltimore, had docked to trade containers and cars. The bulk of its cargo was headed for delivery in Africa.
Firefighters converged on the port’s Suez Street at 9:30 p.m. They went into the ship’s roll-on, roll-off ramp and started towards the two decks.
The incident commander then pulled a mutual aid alarm. Firefighters were getting beaten back by flames, smoke and intense heat.
A first Mayday call was received at 9:45 p.m., followed by a second at 10:15. Brooks and Acabou were soon found and taken to a local hospital – where they were declared dead.
The ship’s fire, whose flare ups could be seen by alternating black or white smoke, could be seen up to five miles away Thursday and Friday.
Several Port Newark Streets were closed through Saturday, contributing to heavy volume on the New Jersey Turnpike Newark Bay Extension and Truck Route 1-9. Rubbernecking became so problematic that the Pulaski Skyway was closed for Friday afternoon.
Acabou’s viewing was scheduled to be held at the basilica 4-8 p.m. July 12. His Mass was to start at 10 a.m. July 13.
Brooks’ viewing is to follow at 4-8 p.m. July 13. His Mass was set for 10 a.m. July 14.
The NFU has established a GoFundMe.com page for the Acabou and Brooks families. Proceeds will be split 50/50.
