BOWERS, Del.— The U.S. Coast Guard and local fire agencies are responding to a barge fire that that broke out early Monday morning approximately nine miles south of Port Mahon.
Watchstanders at the Sector Delaware Bay Command Center received a call at approximately 1 a.m. reporting a barge on fire in the Delaware River. The barge was reportedly carrying household appliances for scrap.
The Coast Guard launched a 29-foot response boat small-boat crew to assist and continue to monitor the situation. There are six fire boats on scene from local fire agencies actively fighting the fire.
“Our highest priority is ensuring the safety of firefighters and response personnel on scene,” said Capt. Jonathan Theel, Sector Delaware Bay Captain of the Port. “We will also work to mitigate any environmental threats and protect the flow of commerce within this vital port.”
As of 4:30pm the fire is still burning.
The USCG and DNREC crews are looking for debris from the barge and its cargo of disused household appliances and scrap metal, and wildlife that might be struggling from the effects of the fire. As of Monday afternoon, they had observed no debris in the water from the vessel and there have been no reports of impacted wildlife.
There are no injuries and no evidence of pollution impacting the waterway. The cause of the fire is not known at this time.
The Coast Guard requests that all mariners avoid the area of the incident.
