{"id":36794,"date":"2019-07-09T15:33:03","date_gmt":"2019-07-09T15:33:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2019\/07\/09\/coast-guard-probing-dock-explosion\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T19:35:23","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T19:35:23","slug":"coast-guard-probing-dock-explosion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2019\/07\/09\/coast-guard-probing-dock-explosion\/","title":{"rendered":"Coast Guard probing dock explosion"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

ANCHORAGE, Alaska \u2014 An explosion at a dock in Alaska spread fire to a nearby fishing boat that then sank, leaving one person aboard missing, the U.S. Coast Guard said Monday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Crews were using a boat and helicopter to scour the ocean around the dock for the missing person, the Coast Guard said in a statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to officials, the explosion happened on a fixed barge and fire then spread to the pier and the 99-foot commercial fishing vessel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Initial reports were that two people were aboard the fishing vessel at the time. But Whittier, Alaska, police told the Coast Guard that one of the two was on a different boat and is safe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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An explosion rocked a fishing boat tied up at a dock in Whittier, Alaska and spread fire to a nearby fishing boat that then sank, leaving one person aboard missing, the U.S. Coast Guard said Monday. (Brian Hicks\/Girdwood Fire Department via AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Coast Guard established a 100-yard (91-meter) safety zone to keep other boats away from the fire and search area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The fishing boat, which had the capacity to carry about 5,500 gallons (20,820 liters) of fuel, sank in 85 feet (25 meters) of water, the Coast Guard said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A salvage crew has been hired by the vessel\u2019s owner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brian Hicks, the Whittier Fire Department<\/a>\u2019s chief, told the Coast Guard that personnel from Whittier Fire Department, Whittier Police Department, Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel Fire Department and Girdwood Fire Department<\/a> all responded to the scene.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The dock is operated by the city of Whittier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The aftermath of an explosion and fire destroyed the fishing boat Alaganik at a dock in Whittier Alaska, on Monday. (U.S. Coast Guard via AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The cause of the explosion is under investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kelly Bender and her family own a Whittier-based charter. Bender told the Anchorage Daily News that she heard the explosion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bender said her husband and son, who is an Anchorage firefighter, jumped into their boat to help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“They were able to get close enough and throw a grappling hook, about 40 feet,” Bender said. “They were able to just pull it off the dock to prevent more damage. I guess the boat sunk pretty quickly.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They joined other vessels in a search for missing people, she said. No one was seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\t