One hundred and two men of the Sixth Division, many fresh from training at NSGL, were busy rigging the newly built Victory ship (also spelled "Quinalt") in preparation for loading it with explosives, a task that was to begin at midnight. The "Quinault" contained a partial load of fuel oil, some of which was of a type that released flammable fumes as it sat, or upon agitation. The fuel, taken aboard at Shell Oil Company's Martinez refinery mid-day on July 17, would normally be sluiced to other fuel tanks in the following 24 hours.