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Two Newark firefighters killed battling container ship fire

The facility in Newark, N.J., is among six U.S. ports that would be operated by Dubai Ports World under the controversial deal.
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The facility in Newark, N.J., is among six U.S. ports that would be operated by Dubai Ports World under the controversial deal.

The City of Newark is mourning the loss of two firefighters who died battling a blaze Wednesday night.

Newark's fire chief says firefighters Augusto Acabou and Wayne Brooks Jr. both stationed in the East Ward perished while trying to put out a fire aboard a container ship at the port. Newark Mayor Ras Baraka.

"Two of our bravest in this city who without hesitation gave their lives and probably that morning didn't think they would be fighting a fire on a ship with five thousand cars, something they had not trained for."

The container ship had vehicles on different levels and several of them caught fire. The fire chief says the two firefighters who perished got lost and sent out mayday calls after being pushed back by the intensity of the fire.