Acabou, a nine-year veteran, was a member of Engine 16, while Brooks had dedicated over 16 years of his life to serving with Ladder 4.
The city of Newark mourns this significant loss, the first firefighter fatalities since a tragic motorcycle accident in 2007.
“At the end of the day, we lost two of our finest,” Newark Mayor Ras Baraka said, emphasizing the magnitude of the loss from the Newark port fire.
“They didn’t think that morning they would be battling a blaze on a ship holding 5000 vehicles.”
An Unprecedented Challenge
According to Chief Jackson, Newark firefighters were adept at handling fires on cruise ships and living quarters, but this blaze was uniquely challenging.
“This was definitely a new type of fire for us,” he admitted. “The ship was carrying thousands of vehicles, escalating the complexity of the firefighting process.” In addition to the two lives lost, five firefighters sustained injuries and were subsequently transported to the University Hospital in Newark for treatment.
Newark port fire : Looking Forward
In the aftermath of the Newark port fire, Mayor Baraka emphasized the need for a serious discussion with the Port Authority about fire safety measures at its locations.
