[Editor’s Note: The Yakima has been towed from the Friday Harbor terminal and regular service has resumed beginning with the 3:40 p.m. departure from Friday Harbor to Lopez and Anacortes.]
— from John B. Vezina, Government Relations Liaison, Washington State Ferries —
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. It is currently moored in Friday Harbor and service there is suspended until the Yakima is towed from the slip, which is presently scheduled for approximately 2:30 p.m.
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. We have suspended new reservations and will give priority to existing reservation holders. Due to availability of vessels, we expect normal service to begin later today.
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