It is believed that the fire to the detained fishing ships at the Salelologa Wharf on Wednesday was deliberately set as police took a 13-year-old boy in for questioning.

According to authorities, the ships were still burning and smoke was coming out on Thursday afternoon. 

"The 13-year-old is from Salelologa and was the last person seen coming out of one of the fishing boats yesterday. It was caught on security camera footage from the DMC restaurant," said Police Commissioner Auapaau Logoitino Filipo.

"No one has been charged," said Auapaau.

He said an investigation is still underway and arson was not fully crossed out of the equation. 

"There is a possibility of arson. But we cannot determine that until the investigation is completed," said Auapaau. 

Commissioner Tanuvasa Petone Mauga of the Samoa Fire and Emergency Services Authority (SFESA) stated during a phone call on Thursday at 3 pm that the fire, which started on Wednesday, was still active.

"The fire is still going, not flames, but there's still smoke coming out from inside the boats," said Tanuvasa.

 "Our firefighters are there, and we've sent our reinforcement team from here to assist them. The staff are exhausted," added Tanuvasa.

The fire commissioner recognised that the firefighters had worked overnight to control the fire.

"We trained on infrastructure fire, but on ships and boats, it's a different environment and a different layout. We have to be very careful about entering those constructions," said Tanuvasa.

Tanuvasa highlighted that the fire posed a danger to nearby residents and affected local ferry services. 

"The inter-island ferry trips were also disrupted this morning because of the fire," said Tanuvasa. 

The first ferry trip of the day from Upolu to Savai'i arrived close to midday.

Tanuvasa also said that they suspected arson but could not confirm as the investigation was still on.

Samoa Ports Authority (SPA) in a statement on Thursday afternoon said the fishing vessels once belonged to the Apia Deep Sea Fishing (ADSF) Company but were now under the responsibility of the Authority, following the termination of their lease on the Apia International Port in July 2024.

"The ADSF company had abandoned the vessels. All these fishing vessels were berthed at the Apia International Port since the ADSF left."

Ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, the authority transferred the fishing vessels from the Apia International Port to its other domestic ports at Satitoa Aleipata, Mulifanua and Salelologa for berthage. 

The three fishing ships were bunched together with eight others and were pulled away from the bunch by a tug boat to prevent further damage.