Two firefighters have died after a large fire broke out on a large cargo ship docked in a New Jersey port on Wednesday night, officials said.

“We lost two firefighters today,” Newark Mayor Russ Baraka said at the scene. according to ABC7 New York. “This is a tragedy for us in Newark City and for all firefighters who know what it means to be inside a burning structure in a dangerous situation.”

BREAKING NEWS: Two firefighters died Wednesday while responding to a cargo ship fire in Port Newark, New Jersey, officials said. https://t.co/AMPnOu0i1p

— The New York Times (@nytimes) July 6, 2023

The fire broke out around 9:30 p.m. on the 10th floor of the vehicle freighter Grande Costa D’Avolio, igniting some of the thousands of cars on board, The New York Times (NYT) reported. report. Firefighters were able to target the initial source of the fire, which consisted of five to seven vehicles, before the fire spread to the ship’s 11th and 12th decks, the newspaper said. (Related article: Red Sea tour boat fire kills 3 British divers)

Newark Fire Chief Rufus Jackson said at a news conference Thursday morning that firefighters were forced out of the original blaze due to extreme heat as they tried to extinguish the blaze, according to the New York Times. Two firefighters reportedly went missing while retreating from the building, Jackson said.

“This was a tragedy,” Jackson said. “We will continue to work and will continue to pray for the families of the two members who went missing tonight.”

Baraka said firefighters were still fighting the fire early Thursday morning, the NYT reported. “We still have agents and staff inside of us trying to put out the fire on this ship. …Today I saw an act of unparalleled courage and camaraderie. …I live in Newark City. It’s very traumatic for all of us.”