Fire Engulfs New $80 Million Cruise Dock in Whittier, Alaska

A fire broke out Monday, 14 Sep 2026, at the newly built Glacier Creek Cruise Ship terminal in Whittier, Alaska, with flames and heavy smoke engulfing the dock area. The U.S. Coast Guard said the blaze was first reported at 11 a.m., and by late afternoon Whittier Fire Department volunteer Michael Pese said “half the dock is gone,” with crews still conducting overhaul work and awaiting additional water tanker support from Anchorage. The cause of the fire remained unknown as of Monday afternoon. A tour boat, the Klondike Express, was moored beside the dock when the fire ignited but had no passengers aboard and was later moved to safety, according to the Coast Guard. The Norwegian Jade, a cruise ship docked there at the time, also departed the terminal after the fire started. Girdwood Fire reported no injuries, and officials confirmed the cruise ship itself was not damaged. Eyewitness Barbara Mackessy, aboard a nearby ship, said she watched the fire burn for more than an hour before her vessel pulled away, describing flames spreading beneath the dock. The Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel, the sole road access to Whittier, was temporarily closed to allow emergency responders through. Anchorage Fire Department sent a Battalion Chief, an engine and two water tankers to assist. The $80 million dock and terminal project broke ground in 2022. Local tour operator Tyler Schmitt called the fire a significant loss given the facility's recent completion and upcoming scheduled events.