Crews put out fire that broke out inside 600-foot cargo in Fernandina Beach

Two fire departments in Nassau County came together after a fire broke out inside the cargo hold of a large ship docked at the Port of Fernandina’s north terminal pier, according to a release.

The Fernandina Beach Fire Department and Nassau County Fire Rescue responded to the call around 11:52 Sunday night. When they arrived firefighters found a 600-foot cargo ship with heavy smoke coming from one of the ship’s five cargo holds, the release said. The ship’s crew was attempting to extinguish the fire with onboard fire suppression lines — but had no luck.

According to the release, 35 firefighters battled the fire until 4:18 a.m. when the fire was determined to be under control. Firefighters officially called the fire out at 6:17 a.m.

Firefighters could not enter the cargo hold to attempt to bring the fire under control.

There were no reported injuries to the ship’s crew. One firefighter was transported to Baptist Medical Center Nassau with a non-life-threatening injury.

Officials said the fire had started within the number five cargo hold loaded with stacks of bundled plywood being unloaded at the port. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the United States Coast Guard Investigations Division.

The cause of the fire has not been determined and will take some time due to the condition of the cargo hold.