A worker died and two firefighters were injured in an explosion and fire on a petroleum barge docked on New York City’s Arthur Kill waterway, the Fire Department of New York said Thursday.
The explosion happened on a container on the barge Casablanca tied up on Richmond Terrace in the Mariners Harbor section shortly after 2:30 p.m., according to the FDNY. One worker was discovered dead on the barge and two firefirghters suffered minor injuries responding to the incident.
Fire, emergency medical and hazardous materials units were on the scene after a second alarm sounded around 3:15 p.m.
The incident happened on the waterfront used by Clean Water, an oil recycling and barge washing company, and barge operator Kirby Offshore Marine.
Neighbors told local news media how the initial blast shook the neighborhood on Staten Island’s north shore. The barge explosion came months after a May 22 fire and explosions at the May Ship Repair Contracting Corp. One worker died and 34 city firefighters were injured following that explosion.
