After seeing these photos I am more confident that Star will be able to start her Baltic season on the 15 more than before. A few shots of rooms close to the windows shows live fire was not consuming rooms, heat from the exterior melted a few things made of plastic but most interior damage appeared to be soot from a very smokey fire consuming plastic and fiberglass on the exterior.Seeing beds with natural looking wrinkles in the sheets and intact but black plastic lamp shades reinforces that opinion.
IF a fire occurs and IF it is where this one was concentrated, it is the best scenario for a fast repair. All the affected areas are accessible from the outside and not appearing to be structural.
I was a captain in a large all volunteer FD( 7 staffed stations) in California I've seen many structure fires and when fire full engages a building regardless of it construction the damage is more complete than this photos indicate. The indicated temperatures, based on what did not melt or combust, were not that high. So you can imagine what a inferno a fully engaged house fire could be if typically nothing seen intact in these photos would have escaped complete destruction.....makes you want to test your fire alarms doesn't it?
If the interior had been fully breeched, the sprinkler fire suppression system could have kept it down so it is doubtful that the ship was in danger of being destroyed.
So all in all luck was on the side of the passengers, the cruise line and fans of Star. The fumes and smoke from this sort of fire are deadly however so there are going to be a lots of inquiries into the use of some of the materials that were used on balconies.
If the fire occured below decks, where it is very difficult to repair structural damage the ship would be out of service a lot longer, probably for the remainder of the year.
A few good result of this: everyone will be more conscious of safety, no one is going to lightly skip out of required emergency situation drills, and smoking and smokers will be watched more carefully than ever before.
I'll be glad to see Star as it docks at pier 32 here a 6am on the 19th of May, I'll be there waiting for it.

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Nice to hear from you Stan. Good insight from someone experienced. I did notice one bed that had been burned down to the metal springs though.

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I read Stans post and as a former fire fighter, I agree with him. I too saw the burnt bed springs. Since most of the other rooms appear to be smoke and heat damaged, I would say that: a) this was at or near the point of origin, b) the door was open. Time wil tell the facts.

It is so good the hear in all but one account that I have read that the crew was right on the money handling this situation.

PS
Thanks for posting the pictures Heather.

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