At approximately 01:15 this morning a crew from Station Fortescue was activated to a 300 foot barge with a fire onboard. The barge was unmanned and carrying scrap metal and household appliances. Also responding are multiple units from Bowers Beach Fire Department Delaware. The barge fire is in the vicinity of Bombay Hook Point, DE. Station Fortescue remains on scene to ensure a safety zone is kept around the barge for safety of vessel traffic.

Responding crew: BM2 Burns, BM3 Friedreich’s, MK3 Fox

U.S. Coast Guard
U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area Command
U.S. Coast Guard Mid-Atlantic
U.S. Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay
U.S. Coast Guard Office of Emergency Management & Disaster Response
Bowers Fire Company Inc.
The Press of Atlantic City
Cape May County Herald Newspapers

Update: Station Fortescue has been released by U.S. Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay after being relieved by USCGC BONITO. The barge is still on fire and all vessels transitting the Delaware Bay are urged to use caution when in the area.

U.S. Coast Guard
U.S. Coast Guard Mid-Atlantic
U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area Command
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard
Admiral Karl Schultz
Admiral Linda Fagan
U.S. Coast Guard Office of Emergency Management & Disaster Response
The Press of Atlantic City
Cape May County Coast Guard Community Foundation