Wilmington’s harbor had an unwelcome bit of excitement on Thursday when an alert went out about a boat taking on water at Berth 202, prompting a quick response from Los Angeles firefighters. LAFD marine units moved in to dewater the vessel and keep it from slipping under, while crews on shore secured the area around the berth.
In a post on X on Feb. 5, 2026, the Los Angeles Fire Department said it had dispatched firefighters to a sinking boat at Berth 202 and listed Fire Station 49 among the responding companies. According to LAFD, the alert also included a map and a link to detailed incident information for the call.
LAFD Alert- Wilmington Sinking Boat Berth 202 Spd MAP: https://t.co/Hi6VCnLXio FS49; DETAILS: https://t.co/xAe1b7RNs5
— LAFD 🔥 (@LAFD) February 5, 2026
How crews stabilize sinking boats
LAFD marine units typically roll out pumps, fire boats, and divers to keep a vessel afloat when it starts taking on water. Crews work to locate and patch openings in the hull, then dewater the boat to restore buoyancy and buy time for salvage. Past Wilmington responses logged in LAFD show firefighters finding holes, plugging them, and “aggressively dewatering,” a playbook they rely on whenever a small craft gets into trouble along the waterfront.
Why the call matters for the port
Smaller pleasure and work boats taking on water remain a recurring headache along the Port of Los Angeles, including in the East Basin, where similar marine responses have been required in the past. Earlier lifeguard boat rocky predicament coverage shows how LAFD’s boats and pumps are repeatedly used to limit damage and keep navigation channels clear when something goes wrong on the water.
Officials had not immediately released any details about what caused this latest incident, whether anyone was hurt or whether there were pollution concerns. The department’s alert linked to incident details that may be updated as crews finish salvage work. For follow-up information, residents can check LAFD or watch for Port of Los Angeles updates as recovery efforts and any environmental checks continue.
Anyone near the harbor who spots an emergency is urged to call or text 9-1-1. This story will be updated when agencies release official follow-ups or new details become available.
