New Orleans Fire Department Resonds to Barge Fire

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At 10:58 a.m. on Tuesday, October 05, 2010, the New Orleans Fire Department (NOFD) responded to a call of a barge burning in the Industrial Canal at Southern Scrap and Recycling, located at 4801 Florida Ave. The decommissioned military barge is thought to contain a large amount of fuel, the burning of which has caused heavy black smoke that can be seen throughout most of the city, according to a New Orleans Fire Department news release. Twenty New Orleans firefighters were carried in six units responding to this incident and extinguished the fire at 2:01 p.m.

While fire crews were still working on the barge fire, one of the District Chiefs on the scene of the incident noticed a second fire just a few hundred feet from the first fire. According to NOFD, a large amount of foam, previously used as automobile seat cushions, approximately 40 feet tall, 100 feet long and 50 feet wide was burning. At 1:32 p.m., another one-alarm was struck with fire personnel being taken from the original fire. Six units and approximately 20 firefighters were used on this fire as well, fully extinguishing it at 4:01 p.m.

The two fires are believed to be unrelated. Windy, dry conditions are factors in both incidents and both fires are under investigation.



Author:Renee Marquart - Fire Department Network News