While the Fort Stikine explosion was eventually ruled an accident, a series of events led to the blast itself. The ship was carrying explosives along with flammable items such as cotton, sulfur, and oil drums. After it was secured in the dock, the ship could not be moved easily except at high tide and only by tugboat. The fire could have been spotted earlier, but the watchmen for the ship took an unauthorized break at the time the fire is believed to have begun. Police at the dock saw the fire but initially believed the crew was handling it. When fire crews were eventually notified, they were not informed that the ship had explosives, and only two fire engines were sent to the ship. There were also conflicting priorities: The captain and the dock manager wanted to prioritize the ship and docks, respectively, while the lead firefighter wanted to focus on fighting the fire while leaving the ship where it stood.
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