VIDEO: Dozens of firefighters with the Los Angeles and Long Beach fire departments teamed with the Coast Guard to practice exercises in case there's a fire on a big vessel, like a container ship, in the port.
"Having L.A. and Long Beach train together is very significant because a fire of this size would require both agencies to work together," said Sergio Arjonilla, Battalion Chief for the Long Beach Fire Department. This training is possible through a grant by the Coast Guard.
While officials say smaller boat fires happen more often, but fires on big ships are more high risk.
During the training, the firefighters worked out logistical elements to help protect the ships and the port around them so fires don't spread.
"Getting the hose in place, charging the water into the hose, getting the hose to connect to the ship. These are all things that are a little more complicated here in the marine environment than they would be for say a house fire or a commercial building fire," said Arjonilla.