UPDATE: Coast Guard, Multiple Agencies Battle Barge Fire in Delaware Bay
Image Courtesy of 6ABC Action News
UPDATE: After coordinating together since Tuesday morning, agencies from the U.S. Coast Guard, the State of Delaware, and the State of New Jersey have jointly declared the barge fire under control.
Multiple fire companies worked diligently to extinguish the fire, while state agencies and the U.S. Coast Guard coordinated resources to support response operations and minimize impacts to federal waterways, coastal communities, and the surrounding environment.
As of Wednesday morning, the U.S. Coast Guard will ensure the vessel is stable and able to safely proceed to Camden, New Jersey, where the salvaged material will be offloaded. The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control continues to monitor air quality in Delaware through a system of land-based air monitors.
NEW CASTLE COUNTY, Del. – Multiple agencies spent Tuesday morning responding to a barge fire in the Delaware Bay.
The Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) says the barge is carrying salvage metal and is being moved to shallow water, approximately two miles off Maurice River Cove, New Jersey. From there, it will be secured to allow responders on-scene to extinguish the fire and complete salvage operations. No injuries have been reported at this time, and the cause of the fire remains under investigation.
At 8:20 a.m., Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay watchstanders received a call from the tug “Douglas J” reporting the barge they were towing was on fire. Coast Guard officials quickly established a safety zone, issued a Broadcast Notice to Mariners, and continues to mitigate the risks this fire poses to the port.
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control is on scene to perform air monitoring. Additional responding agencies to this incident include Wilmington Fire Department, Good Will Fire Company, Leipsic Volunteer Fire Company, Bowers Fire Company, South Bowers Fire Company, Delaware State Police, the New Castle County Office of Emergency Management, and the Kent County Department of Public Safety. The Philadelphia Fire Department is enroute to assist.
This article was originally published on Mar. 10 at 2:57 p.m.
