CARY WILLIAMS
ABC ActionNews
Reprinted with Permission

TAMPA - A four-alarm fire broke out on a large conveyor belt attached to a cargo ship at the Port of Tampa Wednesday morning.


The blaze was reported around 9 a.m. at berth 220 on the west side of Hooker's Point near Davis Islands.

According to a Tampa Fire spokesman Captain Bill Wade, the conveyor belt was offloading granite when it caught fire.

All 32 crewmembers aboard the 742-foot Liberian-registered Sophia Oldendorff were evacuated safely.

The fire went to a fourth alarm shortly after 9:30 a.m. The Coast Guard was called in to assist in the firefighting efforts around 9:45.

One concern for firefighters was a sulphuric acid line near the fire.

Heavy smoke could be seen coming from the area for miles around and the fire was still burning at 11:30.

There's no word on what caused the conveyor belt to catch fire.

No injuries were reported.

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