An explosion aboard a vessel took place at the Crowley fuel dock in the Valdez small boat harbor on Monday morning.

It was at about 11:30 am on Monday morning that the recreational vessel “Falcon,” with two adults and three children aboard, all of Fairbanks, exploded and caught fire while at the fuel dock, prompting fuel dock employees to quickly secure all fuel pumps at the dock.

The Valdez Harbormaster’s office, the Valdez Fire Department and the Coast Guard immediately responded to the fire that by then had fully engulfed the vessel. According to reports, all five persons aboard sustained injuries in the fire and were transported to the Providence Medical Center and treated for their injuries.

The Valdez Fire Department, who has juristiction over firefighting in the harbor worked quickly to extinguish the flames and within 45 minutes the fire was completely put out. The Coast Guard Captain of the Port immediately closed the harbor to all traffic and a Coast Guard Valdez Boat Small was launched to assist with the traffic control in the harbor and immediate vicinity.

A Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit dispatched to the scene to investigate the cause of the fire.

Th vessel had just completed fueling and was preparing to leave the dock when the explosion occurred according to authorities. Three of the vessels occupants, the wife of the operator and two of his daughters, managed to escape the vessel through a window that was blown out from the blast.

The husband and another daughter were severely injured when he went back for her after she fell into the engine compartment of the vessel. There is no further information of the extent of their burns or further injuries at this time.

By shortly after one o’clock, the situation was fully under control and it was decided that it was safe to re-open the harbor. The Coast Guard Captain of Port re-opened the area for marine traffic. Oil spill boom was deployed around the vessel as authorities worked to determine the best avenue for removing the vessel from the harbor.

The investigation into the cause of the explosion continues.