Major Fire at Port of Benicia (Northern California)

[shelt]

FYI, there is currently a 4-alarm fire at Amports Benicia. It's still burning vigorously. It's unclear what the extent of it is, or how it will affect VW vehicle offloading operations there. So far, no docked ships are involved.




Video of Early Part of Fire

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[Ambroos]

Unlikely to affect things much if the fire is contained. It's on one of the two roads to the docks so far, it's not near the Amports location VW uses.

If the second land connection from the dock stays fine, it'll be OK. If there are structural issues and the docks become unusable, that's a different story. It does seem like the fire is spreading a little.

 

[shelt]

The fire burned up to the second access road off the wharf as well (where the ship is in your photo). You can see it in the video link in my first post. I suspect there will be some integrity issues (or structural analysis required at a minimum) on the main wharf. If so, I wonder if VW could shift their offloading ops to, say, Richmond?

 

[Ambroos]

The problem is likely the PDI facilities Amports has, if Benicia has no available docks for a while. I think it's more likely they'll just offload everything in San Diego instead.

 

[jkoya]

The fire burned up to the second access road off the wharf as well (where the ship is in your photo). You can see it in the video link in my first post. I suspect there will be some integrity issues (or structural analysis required at a minimum) on the main wharf. If so, I wonder if VW could shift their offloading ops to, say, Richmond?

I was tempted to take a quick trip out there this morning to see if I could glimpse a row of Taycans covered in protective wrap through the cyclone fence. Been a while since I've been out there and didn't know if Bayshore and Oak were still accessible. Used to see it everyday either on 680 or Amtrak. North wind today, so hopefully blowing the smoke away from my CT parked in the lot ?? Thanks for the post..

 

[jkoya]

Update from local 5 pm news. Some structures appear to have burned and smoke is easily visible in Fairfield. Evacuations still possible, depending on the wind..

 

[rcsting]

Here is another view of the fire. The vehicles aren’t near the fire although the access road from the ships looks completely burned. It looks like no ships will be docking in Benicia for a while.

 

[Westbyz80]

Oh jeez…my Taycan is due at Benicia in a couple of weeks. Wonder if delivery will be delayed as a result. Hope everyone over there is ok!

 

[vatsav]

Oh jeez…my Taycan is due at Benicia in a couple of weeks. Wonder if delivery will be delayed as a result. Hope everyone over there is ok!

I'm in the same boat as you

 

[Westbyz80]

I'm in the same boat as you

Dang, I just want my car! So many things happened already lol

 

[vatsav]

Dang, I just want my car! So many things happened already lol

I hear you

 

[jkoya]

Well, my CT is at Benicia and I'm hoping the inside doesn't smell like smoke. From NBC Bay Area:

“What’s burning is the timber that’s been soaked in creosote and that also is hazardous. When it burns, it’s not good smoke,” said Benicia fire chief Josh Chadwick.

Local residents are reporting the air is filled with the smelly smoke and according to the Mayor of Benicia “It may be a day or even more before it’s actually put out,”.

 

[mdrobc1213]

Wow Pcar deliveries just can't catch a break it seems this year. First Felicity Ace now this. SMDH

 

[Westbyz80]

The Glovis Comet is the next ship with our cars set to arrive at Benicia, I believe. It’s currently in San Diego. I wonder if they just offload everything for California in SD…

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