A New Jersey fire department rescue boat was severely damaged and partially sank after being struck by a surfacing whale while returning from a Fourth of July marine security assignment in New York Harbor, forcing firefighters to abandon the vessel before they were rescued by nearby boaters, as reported by Fox News.

The incident occurred around 4:30 p.m. Friday near the mouth of Raritan Bay as the Carteret Fire Department's Marine Unit 2 was heading back to Carteret after assisting with a regional special operations marine security detail in the New York and New Jersey Port area.

According to the Carteret Fire Department, a whale surfaced beneath the stern of the vessel, causing catastrophic damage that left the crew with only seconds to evacuate before the boat began taking on water.

A Carteret (Northern NJ, just west of NYC on the water) Fire Department marine unit was heavily damaged Friday afternoon after being struck by a surfacing whale while operating in the Arthur Kill near the mouth of Raritan Bay. Carteret FD Marine 2 was traveling south of Arthur… pic.twitter.com/UrM0a0DvKo

— NYCFireWire (@NYCFireWire) July 6, 2026

Officials said all firefighters aboard safely escaped the damaged vessel without injury.

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Nearby civilians quickly responded to assist.

The fire department said a recreational jet ski operator and another boater immediately came to the aid of the firefighters after they entered the water.

Members of the Perth Amboy Fire Department's marine unit also arrived at the scene and helped rescue the crew.

Emergency responders safely recovered all personnel involved in the incident.

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According to the Carteret Fire Department, a nearby recreational boat reported seeing multiple whales breaching in the area both before and after the collision.

Officials have not identified the species of whale involved in the incident, and authorities have not said whether the animal was injured.

The unusual collision remains under review as officials work to determine exactly how the whale surfaced beneath the vessel.

The Carteret Fire Department said additional information will be released as it becomes available.

Mayor Dan Reiman described the incident as a "harrowing experience" in a public statement, saying the whale surfaced beneath the boat's stern and caused catastrophic damage.

The department noted that while its marine unit regularly prepares for a wide variety of emergencies on the water, the circumstances surrounding Friday's incident were unlike anything firefighters typically encounter.

"While the Carteret Fire Department Marine Unit regularly trains to rescue civilians from the water and respond to marine emergencies, fires, and vehicle incidents, an event of this nature is something no one anticipates," the fire department said.

"Understandably, it has left those involved shaken, but we are incredibly thankful that everyone returned home safely to their families."

Officials emphasized that every firefighter aboard the vessel was wearing a properly fitted life jacket at the time of the collision.

The department said those safety precautions played an important role in ensuring that everyone safely escaped after the boat began taking on water.

Following the incident, the Carteret Fire Department reminded boaters, kayakers, and jet ski operators to wear properly fitted life jackets whenever they are on the water.

Marine Unit 2 had been participating in regional security operations connected to Independence Day activities before beginning the return trip to Carteret.

The collision occurred as many law enforcement and emergency response agencies remained active throughout the region during the busy Fourth of July holiday.

The damaged vessel was one of the department's marine response boats used for water rescues, firefighting operations, and other emergency incidents throughout the waterways surrounding Carteret.

Authorities have not announced how long Marine Unit 2 will be out of service or the estimated cost of repairing or replacing the vessel.

Investigators continue reviewing the circumstances surrounding the collision, and officials said additional information will be released as the investigation progresses.

Despite the extensive damage to the fire rescue boat, no injuries were reported among the firefighters or rescuers who responded to the emergency.

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