Cause of Fire on Yakima Unknown

Results of a fire in electrical panel on M/V Yakima – WSF photo – Click to enlarge

Here’s the word from Washington State Ferries on this morning’s fire on the Yakima…

This morning at 10:25 a.m., while tied up at Friday Harbor’s main slip, deck crews reported smoke coming from a vent on the Yakima’s car deck.  The engine crew investigated immediately and discovered a fire in the machine shop, near the control room, and immediately extinguished it.  The fire was found to be electrical and the cause is under investigation.  The fire was contained to a 2’x4’x6′ electrical panel (see attached picture).

The crew reacted quickly and there were no injuries from the fire.  The Yakima had just begun loading at the time the smoke was reported, with only a few passengers on board.  Although the fire was out within minutes, deck crews disembarked the few passengers on board and we suspended operation of the Yakima.

The US Coast Guard was promptly notified and the 10:30 a.m. sailing from Friday Harbor to Anacortes, cancelled.  To minimize service impacts, we will be using the Chelan (at this time of year only used in the morning), on the Yakima’s afternoon sailings, until further notice.

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