A series of preventable failures turned a vehicle fire into a deadly disaster that claimed the lives of two Newark, NJ IAFF Local 71 members, federal investigators say.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) last week released its draft final report on the July 2023 fire aboard the Grimaldi Deep Sea’s Grande Costa D’Avorio, a roll-on/roll-off cargo vessel loaded with hundreds of used cars. Investigators found that the fire started when a 16-year-old Jeep – improperly used to push other vehicles aboard the ship – overheated and erupted into flames. While the ship’s crew activated its carbon dioxide fire suppression system, they were unable to fully seal a critical garage door, rendering the system ineffective.
When Newark fire fighters arrived, they lacked crucial information about the ship’s layout, hazards, and firefighting systems, according to the NTSB. In interviews, fire officers described a scene hampered by difficulties communicating with the Grimaldi crew and complications accessing blueprints and safety plans.
Fire fighters Augusto “Augie” Acabou and Wayne “Bear” Brooks, Jr. died in the fire.
NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy sharply criticized the city’s failure to adequately train and prepare for marine fires, despite Newark being home to the East Coast’s largest port.
“You’re going to end up with another tragedy on your hands,” she said, highlighting the city’s failure to prioritize training for the Newark Fire Division.
“They didn’t have training before and apparently have had substandard training [since] two of their fire fighters died,” Homendy added, “which, to me, is unbelievable.”
The NTSB granted the IAFF party status for its expertise, allowing the union to highlight gaps in current shipboard firefighting practices.
“The IAFF submission was very helpful,” said NTSB member J. Todd Inman. “They’ve been very strong advocates, and I hope we can work with them on a lot of things. Their job is to try to make sure their members get home alive.”
Within hours of the fire, the IAFF was on the ground in Newark, providing peer support to responders, assisting with communications, and ensuring the citizens of Newark could properly honor the sacrifices of their two fallen fire fighters.
IAFF General President Edward Kelly also attended the January 2024 U.S. Coast Guard hearings in Union, N.J., and held a press conference with the families.
At his direction, the IAFF formed a six-member working group of marine firefighting experts who are developing a training course to help fire fighters identify initial tactics, required resources, and communication protocols for shipboard responses. The union is also working with the U.S. Coast Guard to create training programs and policy templates for ports.
The NTSB investigation was the first public account of many of the “hard truths” that led to the deaths of Acabou and Brooks. Wayne’s wife, Michele, hopes it’s the beginning of more accountability.
“Many of those responsible have continued on with their lives, while our families have been left to live with a devastating loss and in a fog of grief,” she said. “The final NTSB hearing gave our families a small measure of validation – acknowledgment of the negligence that led to the deaths of our heroes.
“It’s not justice,” she added, “But in our grief, it was a small and painful win.”
The Acabou family said the events of July 5 should never have happened.
“These were not just procedural missteps; they were systemic breakdowns that cost brave individuals their lives,” they wrote in a statement.
Mark Apostolos, an attorney for the Acabou and Brooks families, said the NTSB’s findings are “confirmation of the massive failures and negligence by Grimaldi Deep Sea, American Maritime Services, Ports America, and the City of Newark.”
“The investigation underscores that the Newark Fire Department woefully lacked adequate maritime firefighting training necessary to safely address a shipboard blaze of this magnitude,” said Apostolos, from the firm Sullivan Papain. “This absence of preparation left Fire Fighters Acabou and Brooks, dedicated public servants, without any of the training required to navigate the hazardous conditions they encountered.”
Kelly said Newark’s decision to consolidate its fire, police, emergency management, and homeland security departments into the Department of Public Safety is a “failed experiment.” For years before the fire, the Newark Fire Division was plagued by staffing shortages, old equipment, and inadequate training.
“Every city that has tried this public safety model has resulted in the fire service not being a priority,” he said.
The NTSB’s findings reinforce the IAFF’s calls on Newark to ensure its fire service meets national standards.
“Now everyone knows what we’ve known all along,” said 1st District Vice President James Slevin. “Newark fire fighters deserve better training and resources so that this never happens again.”
Newark Fire Officers Union Local 1860 President Thomas Shea said Newark Fire is moving in the right direction since the appointment of Fire Chief Del Ortiz in October 2023.
“We have confidence that, in the wake of this tragedy, there is renewed hope that the Newark Fire Division will be prepared to combat ship fires as well as we do three-story frame houses, with the same knowledge and proficiency,” Shea said. “We believe our mayor, director, assistant director, and chief are committed to this, but more work still needs to be done.
“The new fire administration is really working hard to get us all the right training,” he added. “We need additional grants and funding to continue that progress.”
Apostolos thanked the IAFF for its submission to the NTSB and its “continued advocacy to ensure a tragedy such as this doesn’t happen again.”
“The NTSB report illustrates a critical need for enhanced safety protocols to prevent shipboard fires from occurring and sufficient training to protect firefighters responding to emergencies at the Port of Newark,” he said. “We will continue to advocate for accountability and meaningful change to ensure that Fire Fighters Acabou and Brooks’ sacrifices are not in vain.”
Read the Board’s full findings, including its 11 safety recommendations.
