An electrical fire broke out on a barge in Baltimore last night, with fire crews responding to the blaze at around 9:30 p.m. on the 2200 block of Clinton Street, CBS Baltimore reported. According to the fire department officials, the fire was quickly contained, and fortunately, there were no injuries reported.
Firefighters were prepared for any contingencies, with land resources ready, and a dive team on standby in case an emergency arose. The Baltimore City Fire Department assured that there should not be any traffic disruptions in the area, "BCFD has land resources available and ready of [if] need be. The dive team is also on standby. There should be no disruption to traffic," the department said in a statement obtained by FOX45 News.
The exact cause of the fire is still being investigated. This incident follows a previous event in August when city fire crews responded to an explosion on a cargo ship within the harbor that was transporting coal. That particular incident caused delays in the Fort McHenry Federal Channel for approximately one week and required significant clean-up, including the removal of a 30-ton hatch from the harbor.
After the past incident, the damaged vessel remained afloat and was eventually taken back to port with the assistance of tugboats, fire officials from CBS Baltimore elucidated. The fire department's swift response to the latest barge fire demonstrates their preparedness and proficiency in handling maritime emergencies. As crews and dive teams continue to monitor the situation, Baltimore residents and passing boats can take solace in the fact that the swift action helped avert a potentially more serious situation on the water.
