A fire broke out at the Whittier Fuel Dock in Whittier, Alaska around noon on July 4. Emergency units responded to the incident and report that two individuals were injured and airlifted for emergency medical care. The dock sustained significant damage and a boat at the dock burned and sank. Vessel salvage crews raised the sunken vessel the day after the fire.
The fuel dock is operated by Shoreside Petroleum. The dock serves as the major supplier of fuel to commercial and recreational vessels in Prince William Sound. The damaged fuel facility is expected to be down for at least two days. In the meantime, Shoreside opened a land-based fuel facility to maintain the fuel supply for local vessels.
The cause of the fire is under investigation including by the Alaska State Fire Marshal’s Office.