Safety & Health

Tug Boat, Dry Dock Catch Fire in Florida

May 5, 2011

GREEN COVE SPRINGS, Fla. -- Firefighters from two counties are battling a fire on a tugboat and dry dock along the St. Johns River in Green Cove Springs. Channel 4 was told the fire started Wednesday morning on an 88-foot tugboat that was undergoing repairs at Southern Dry Dock. A second alarm was sounded just after 11 a.m., and Clay County requested assistance from Jacksonville Fire Rescue's marine units. About 20 fire trucks and 40 firefighters were at the scene for about an hour fighting the fire.

GREEN COVE SPRINGS, Fla. --

Firefighters from two counties are battling a fire on a tugboat and dry dock along the St. Johns River in Green Cove Springs.

Channel 4 was told the fire started Wednesday morning on an 88-foot tugboat that was undergoing repairs at Southern Dry Dock.

A second alarm was sounded just after 11 a.m., and Clay County requested assistance from Jacksonville Fire Rescue's marine units. About 20 fire trucks and 40 firefighters were at the scene for about an hour fighting the fire.

Some welders who were working on the boat made it off safely. One worker was taken to a hospital for smoke inhalation.

Clay County Fire Chief L. L. Mock said the fire was a challenge to put out because of the limited spaces in the front of the boat.

Investigators said the fire started in a confined place at the front of the boat, then spread.

The tug boat is based in New Orleans.