After nearly a week of intense burning, the fire aboard a cargo ship docked in New Jersey has finally been extinguished. Officials announced the news on Tuesday, marking the beginning of the investigation into the blaze that tragically took the lives of two firefighters.

"The fire is officially out," confirmed Coast Guard Captain Zeita Merchant, Captain of the Port of New York and New Jersey, during a press conference held in Port Newark. Determining the cause of the fire, which ignited late Wednesday and resulted in the deaths of two Newark firefighters and injuries to five others, is expected to take time.

A salvage operation for the Grande Costa d'Avorio is also underway and is estimated to last up to two months, according to Captain Merchant. Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Port Director Bethann Rooney clarified that while the ship carried electric vehicles when it docked in Baltimore, where they were unloaded, there were no lithium-ion battery vehicles onboard when it arrived in Newark. The ship had loaded used vehicles in Newark and was scheduled to load more in Providence, Rhode Island, before its final destination in West Africa.

The ship's hold, described by Rooney as "essentially a parking garage" with multiple levels and ramps, contained cars with minimal gasoline in their tanks. Rooney stated that the fire primarily involved car components and other parts, not the fuel itself. Although the National Transportation Safety Board has warned about the potential dangers of electric vehicle battery fires and the phenomenon of thermal runaway, the absence of such vehicles in Newark at the time of the incident suggests other factors were at play.

The extinguished fire marks a somber milestone as the community mourns the loss of Newark firefighters Augusto "Augie" Acabou and Wayne "Bear" Brooks Jr. Funeral services are planned for later this week to honor their bravery and sacrifice. The fire broke out around 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, and roughly an hour later, a mayday call was issued when two firefighters became trapped. Acabou was rescued before midnight but succumbed to his injuries Thursday morning. Brooks was recovered early Thursday morning and was also pronounced dead.

Captain Merchant indicated that the investigation will explore whether the Newark Fire Department was aware that no lives were at risk during the initial response. Officials have acknowledged the lack of recent training for the fire department on vessels similar to the Grande Costa d’Avorio, prompting discussions about future training protocols.

Grimaldi Deep Sea, the ship's operator, released a statement last week confirming the immediate activation of onboard fire suppression procedures and the prompt response of local firefighting services. The statement also reiterated that the ship carried no electric cars or hazardous cargo, that no fuel spills were detected, and that the vessel's stability remained intact. The company pledged to cooperate with authorities to determine the cause of the fire.

This incident echoes the challenges of containing shipboard fires, recalling the 2020 inferno aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard in San Diego. The fire on the U.S. Navy ship burned for almost five days, ultimately leading to the vessel being scuttled, highlighting the complexities and dangers inherent in such situations.