Universe Explorer Fire

At approximately 5:30 a.m., On July 27, 1996, Captial City Fire/Rescue and other local emergency service crews were notified of a large passenger ship with fire on board and it was going to dock at Auke Bay. Fire crews started to arrive at the Auke Bay Fire Station to assist. Command post was set up at the Glacier Fire Station.

At 7:45 a.m., crews were instructed to report to the Auke Bay harbor. Four ambulance, two engines, two rescue trucks and other CCF/R vehicles were set up and crews started getting equipment ready to board the ship. While the ship was anchoring outside the harbor, a tugboat arrived at the dock and took approximately 20 emergency personnel out to the ship.

Personnel who boarded the ship included Deputy State Fire Marshal Jerry Gentile, Alaska State Trooper Kevin Dockter, Juneau Fire Marshal Curtis Jones, Auke Bay Assistant Chief John George, Fire Captain Dave Boddy, paramedic Steve Iha, State Fire Specialist Gaylen Brevik and about fifteen other firefighters.

Personnel boarded the ship at about 8:45 a.m.

On board, teams were formed and fire watches were set and crews started checking for hot spots and doing any overhaul that was necessary. Paramedic Iha went to the passengers and began his EMS operations. He helped triage and was in charge of who and how many went ashore at a time.

Five crewmen deceased in the fire that was determined to have started in the laundry room.

All CCF/R personnel were off the ship and on shore by about 6 p.m.

The Universe Explorer is 188 meters in length, 27 meters in width, 22,526 tons and carries 751 passengers and 275 crew.

Firefighter Ben Haight, Auke Bay Assistant Chief John George and Deputy State Fire Marshal Jerry Gentile take a break after checking for hotspots aboard the ship.

This is one of the hallways near where the fire started. Notice the discolored areas on the walls from soot and smoke.

This was one of the piles of firefighting equipment on the ship at the time of the fire.

Many pieces of firefighting equipment, like these extinguishers, were scattered in the hallways near where the fire was.

*Special thanks to Gaylen Brevik of State of Alaska Fire Service Training for providing these pictures and information.