A large fire erupted early Tuesday morning on a barge filled with scrap metal in the Delaware Bay near New Castle. The U.S. Coast Guard responded promptly, sending a helicopter and two boats to the scene around 8 a.m.
Local fire departments from Philadelphia and Wilmington joined the effort. A tugboat was towing the barge at the time, and luckily, no injuries were reported. The Delaware Bay, an estuary of the Delaware River, remained open to ship traffic despite the fire raging for several hours.
Firefighting boats worked hard to put out the flames, which were sending smoke billowing into the air. The barge was relatively stable, drifting toward the New Jersey side of the bay as water cannons sprayed the burning metal.
As of now, the cause of the fire is still under investigation. Meanwhile, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control has started air monitoring as they work to move the barge to shallower waters.
Such incidents aren’t isolated. A study from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) shows that maritime fires have increased in frequency in recent years, mainly due to rising temperatures and changes in shipping practices. Experts suggest that increased monitoring and improved safety protocols can help mitigate these incidents.
Overall, while this event caused significant concern, the swift response from the Coast Guard and local authorities helped prevent injuries and major disruptions in the busy Delaware Bay area. For more details on environmental safety, check the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s website here.
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