Towing Vessel Ablaze on the Lower Mississippi
A push boat is ablaze on the lower Mississippi after a fire reportedly broke out in the vessel’s engine room Thursday morning.
The U.S. Coast Guard said it is responding to a fire aboard uninspected towing vessel George King at mile marker 390 on the lower Mississippi River near Vicksburg, Miss. Other local agencies are also involved in emergency response efforts.
The nine crewmembers aboard George King were able to safely disembark to the dry cargo barges the vessel was pushing. No injuries have been reported.
The George King reported there is 65,000 gallons of diesel on board.
A waterway restriction has been put in place from mile marker 395 to mile marker 380. According to the Coast Guard, the queue is nine vessels upbound and three vessels downbound.
