PHOTOS: Nearly 900 passengers evacuated from SI Ferry during fire

Hundreds of passengers had to be removed from the ferry to other ships before they were brought to the St. George Ferry Terminal on Staten Island
Hundreds of passengers had to be removed from the ferry to other ships before they were brought to the St. George Ferry Terminal on Staten Island. Photo credit NY Waterway/Baris Barlas

NEW YORK (1010 WINS/AP) -- Photos released by NY Waterway on Friday show hundreds of passengers being evacuated from a Staten Island Ferry vessel that caught fire on Thursday evening.

The FDNY responded to a fire in the engine room of the Sandy Ground ferry shortly after 5 p.m. The ferry was temporarily anchored near Bayonne as passengers were transferred to other ships.

All 868 passengers aboard the ship were evacuated by the U.S. Coast Guard with help from a NY Waterway ferry. They were then dropped off at the St. George Ferry Terminal on Staten Island.

The fire had been contained to an engine room by the time FDNY firefighters arrived
The fire had been contained to an engine room by the time FDNY firefighters arrived. Photo credit NY Waterway/Baris Barlas
The U.S. Coast Guard and NY Waterway helped evacuate passengers from the ferry
The U.S. Coast Guard and NY Waterway helped evacuate passengers from the ferry. Photo credit NY Waterway/Baris Barlas

Five people were reported injured, three of them requiring hospital treatment, according to the FDNY.

The blaze was contained to the ship’s engine room and stack, FDNY Deputy Assistant Chief Frank Leeb said, crediting the crew with quickly notifying the Coast Guard.

Passengers donned life jackets while they waited to be taken off the vessel
Passengers donned life jackets while they waited to be taken off the vessel. Photo credit NY Waterway/Baris Barlas
Passengers on the Sandy Ground ferry were eventually brought onto other ships
Passengers on the Sandy Ground ferry were eventually brought onto other ships. Photo credit NY Waterway/Baris Barlas
Tug boats were used to bring the ferry back to shore
Tug boats were used to bring the ferry back to shore. Photo credit NY Waterway/Baris Barlas

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Featured Image Photo Credit: NY Waterway/Baris Barlas