Call Us Today
Call Us Today
Steve Kherkher - October 5, 2026
Marine fires are one of the most alarming hazards in the maritime industry. Fires can develop quickly, spread through confined spaces, and create dangerous conditions for everyone aboard a vessel. For seafarers, maritime workers, passengers, and firefighters responding from shore, a vessel fire can become a life-threatening emergency with little time to react.
A new report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) highlights the scale of that risk. The new federal analysis of Coast Guard data shows hundreds of marine fires over the past decade, with dozens of deaths, injuries, and millions of dollars in property damage.
At Kherkher Garcia, our maritime injury attorneys help injured workers and families understand their legal options after serious maritime accidents. Depending on a worker’s role, location, and connection to a vessel, different maritime laws may apply. Our team of attorneys can help you understand your rights and potential legal options.
A new report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) highlights the scale of marine fire risk. After analyzing U.S. Coast Guard data from 2015 through 2025 the GAO report, “Coast Guard: Additional Action Needed to Address Marine Firefighting Challenges” examined Coast Guard data from 2015 through 2025. It also examined Coast Guard guidance, investigative reports, and interviews with Coast Guard officials, fire chiefs, and maritime and firefighting organizations.
The numbers show that marine fires may be relatively infrequent compared with other types of emergencies, but they can have serious consequences. According to the GAO:
Passenger vessels accounted for the largest share of fatalities and injuries. The GAO found that passenger vessel fires were responsible for 34 deaths and 26 injuries, representing 62% and 52% of the respective totals.
Fighting a fire on a vessel is different from fighting a fire on land. The GAO describes marine fires as particularly dangerous because vessels involve confined onboard spaces, vessel instability, hazardous cargo, unfamiliar layouts, and specialized equipment that may not be immediately available. Firefighters responding to a vessel may also be entering an environment they do not routinely encounter, including harsh weather, chemical exposure, and other factors.
In one example discussed in the GAO report, firefighters responding to the 2023 fire aboard the Grande Costa D’Avorio in Newark, New Jersey, became disoriented inside the vessel. Two firefighters died and several others were injured.
The report also identified limited hands-on marine firefighting training as an ongoing concern. Fire chiefs interviewed by the GAO described challenges involving training, funding, coordination, and access to information about vessels and marine hazards.
Marine fires can begin in areas where heat, machinery, electricity, fuel, and other combustible materials are present. Engine rooms and galleys are particularly hazardous because they contain equipment and systems capable of generating heat or serving as ignition sources. Cargo can create additional challenges, especially when transporting petroleum products or flammables.
Other hazardous cargo may also be difficult for firefighters to identify or locate quickly, creating additional challenges. The GAO specifically noted the growing use of alternative fuels and lithium-ion batteries. Battery fires can release toxic gases, ignite rapidly, and be difficult to extinguish.
When marine fires erupt, an injury investigation will often require exploring beyond the immediate cause. Investigations may also include exploring factors like:
The answers will depend on the circumstances of each incident.
The GAO data shows that marine fire risks vary by region and vessel type. The Coast Guard’s Heartland District recorded the highest number of serious marine fires from 2015 through 2025. This data was driven in part by incidents along the Texas and Louisiana coasts and the Mississippi River. Data also included interviews and observations in the Houston area. Towing vessels were the most common vessel type involved in serious marine fires in the Heartland District, followed by barges and fishing vessels.
For workers and families along the Texas Gulf Coast, these findings are particularly relevant. Ports, shipyards, offshore operations, commercial vessels, towing operations, fishing vessels, barges, and other maritime businesses can involve workers who face very different hazards from those found in ordinary workplaces.
A vessel fire can cause many types of serious injuries, not only from the fire itself, but also during evacuation, rescue, and firefighting. Common injuries may include:
Some injuries may be immediately apparent. Others may develop or become more noticeable over time. Survivors of marine fires may also face lengthy recovery periods involving hospitalization, surgery, rehabilitation, medication, and follow-up care.
Families face financial and emotional challenges due to the injuries, but also the potential that their loved one cannot return to work. When injuries are fatal, the devastation is even greater.
Maritime injury cases can be different from ordinary workplace injury claims. Depending on the worker’s job and connection to a vessel, federal maritime law may provide different rights and remedies.
The Jones Act provides means for seaman injured in the course of employment to file a civil action against their employer. Whether someone qualifies as a seaman is a fact-specific legal question. Under the Jones Act, a “seaman” generally is a maritime worker who has a substantial connection to a vessel or fleet of vessels in navigation and who contributes to the vessel’s function or mission. Determining whether the worker qualifies for Jones Act protections is an important part of evaluating the case.
Other maritime workers may have rights under the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act, or LHWCA. The LHWCA generally provides compensation and medical care for covered maritime employees who are injured on navigable waters or in certain adjoining areas used for loading, unloading, repairing, or building vessels. Occupations that may qualify include longshore workers, ship repairers, shipbuilders, and shipbreakers. The LHWCA specifically excludes masters and members of a vessel’s crew, which is one reason determining a worker’s status can be so important.
In some maritime injury cases, there may be potential claims involving parties other than an injured worker’s direct employer. Depending on the circumstances, other relevant parties may include:
The existence of a relationship with a vessel or maritime operation does not by itself establish legal responsibility. Instead, the circumstances surrounding the accident must be investigated carefully.
The GAO found that the Coast Guard has taken steps to improve marine firefighting preparedness since the 2023 fire that killed two firefighters, but gaps remain. Among its recommendations, the GAO called for better coordination between the Coast Guard and local fire departments, including:
The Coast Guard agreed with the recommendations. The GAO also recommended that Congress consider giving the Coast Guard additional authority concerning vessel response plans for certain nontank vessels using alternative fuels.
After a serious maritime accident, medical treatment should be a priority. If you have been injured in a vessel fire, it may also be important to keep records relating to your accident and recovery. Do not assume that a maritime injury will be handled the same way as an ordinary workplace injury. Your rights and applicable legal options may depend on your job, your connection to the vessel, and other circumstances.
A serious maritime accident can leave an injured worker or family facing medical expenses, lost income, uncertainty about future employment, and a long recovery. At Kherkher Garcia, our maritime injury attorneys help injured workers and families understand their potential legal options after serious maritime accidents.
Our team understands that maritime injury cases can involve different federal laws and complex questions about worker classification, employer responsibilities, third-party claims, and available remedies. We carefully investigate the circumstances surrounding maritime incidents, including the vessel, equipment, working conditions, accident reports, available evidence, and the parties involved.
Every case is unique, and whether a particular maritime law or claim applies depends on the circumstances.
The latest Coast Guard data shows that marine fires remain a serious threat to workers and rescuers in the maritime industry. For someone injured in a maritime incident, understanding what happened, and what legal protections may apply, can be an important part of moving forward.
At Kherkher Garcia, we know what it takes to investigate and successfully resolve maritime injury claims. We have more than 30 years of experience helping maritime workers. If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a vessel fire or other maritime accident, contact us to learn how we can help.
Call us at for a free injury consultation. You can also request more information by completing our online contact form.
Image by wirestock on Magnific
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by attorneys Steve Kherkher and Jesus Garcia Jr., who have more than 50 years of combined legal experience championing the rights of those who have experienced catastrophic injury due to negligence.
Connect with a Kherkher Garcia trial lawyer today to pursue maximum compensation for your injury.
