Fire on ferry at Dover port

DFDS Seaways have confirmed there was a small fire in the boiler room of its ferry as it docked in Dover yesterday.

The fire was contained at all times and all 316 passengers on the ship were safely evacuated when it docked.

Once the ship arrived, Kent Fire & Rescue Service boarded to extinguish the fire.

A flashover happened at 3.15pm when all passengers had left the vessel but ten people at the scene, including six crew members, received medical attention.

The fire was finally put out at 2.03am this morning by Kent firefighters.

They added:

South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust was called to Dover Eastern Docks at 3.20pm following a fire which broke out on a ferry.

Fire fighters were already at the scene tackling the blaze when ambulance crews arrived.

Ten patients were assessed and treated at scene, five of which were transported on to the William Harvey Hospital suffering from burns to the face, arms and hands.

Three were taken to Dover minor injuries unit as a precaution.

Due to the nature of the incident, HART staff were used to enter the ‘hot zone’ with fire fighters to undertake assessment and treatment of the patients.

There are big tailbacks along the A20 in Dover because of the fire on a DFDS ship docked at the Port of Dover this afternoon.

Motorists are being advised to avoid the M20 near Dover.

Three firefighters and some of the ship's crew are receiving medical treatment after they suffered flash burns, Kent Fire and Rescue Service have said.

Fire crews were called to deal with a boiler room fire on board a ferry in the Port of Dover at 2.12pm.

All passengers have safely disembarked the vessel.

The boiler room has been shut down and water suppressant systems have been used to cool the area and control the fire.