The initial report of fire aboard '' El Estero '' brought an immediate response of five fire trucks from the Jersey City Fire Department , two 30-foot fireboats and roughly 60 volunteers from the U.S. Coast Guard to battle and contain the flames aboard the ship , which was moored directly opposite two other fully loaded ammunition ships and two ammunition-laden consists of railroad boxcars . With over 5,000 tons of ammunition ( comparable to a tactical nuclear weapon ) now in immediate danger of being set off by the fire on '' El Estero '' and with memories of the Black Tom explosion fresh on the minds of many at the scene , fire fighting efforts began in earnest . It was quickly discovered that the location and intensity of the fire prevented access to the ships ' seacocks , making any attempt at scuttling the ship impossible , and the call went out to the New York City Fire Department , which in turn dispatched its two most powerful fireboats ; '' Fire Fighter '' and '' John J. Harvey '' , to the scene
Black Tom explosion
Black Tom explosion
SS El Estero