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20 March 2026
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Multiple agencies fight major fire on barge in Delaware Bay, US
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A massive fire broke out on a barge carrying scrap metal in the Delaware Bay on the morning of Tuesday, 10 March 2026. The incident involved an unmanned barge being towed, which caught fire approximately two miles off Maurice River Cove, New Jersey. The US Coast Guard responded after 8am to reports of the fire and dispatched a helicopter and two boats, Petty Officer First Class Matthew West said. Local fire departments, including those from Philadelphia and Wilmington, Delaware, also responded. A tugboat was moving the unmanned barge at the time of the fire, West said, adding there were no injuries.
“Fireboat 7 with Engine 2, Battalion 4 and Battalion 11 have been operating at a large barge fire on the Delaware Bay East of Bowers Beach. The barge is hauling scrap metal. It is anticipated that Fireboat 7 will be on location most of the night. Boats from Philadelphia Fire, Bowers Fire, Leipsic Fire and South Bowers Fire are also on scene. A Fireboat from Anne Arundel County , MD is also enroute,” said Wilmington Fire Department in their statement on social media.
The Coast Guard said the barge was towed about two miles (3.2 kilometres) off Maurice River Cove in New Jersey, in order to remove the threat from the main ship channel.
Agencies from the US Coast Guard, the State of Delaware and the State of New Jersey coordinated response efforts.
The barge was carrying salvage metal at the time of the incident. Multiple fire companies worked diligently to extinguish the fire, while state agencies and the US Coast Guard coordinated resources to support response operations and minimise impacts to federal waterways, coastal communities and the surrounding environment.
This morning, the US Coast Guard will ensure the vessel is stable and able to safely proceed to Camden, New Jersey, where the material will be offloaded. The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control continued to monitor air quality in Delaware through a system of land-based air monitors.
The unified response highlights the strong interagency partnership and commitment to protecting public safety, maritime commerce and the environment.
The agencies working throughout the incident included Port Penn Fire Company, Townsend Fire Company, Wilmington Fire Department, Anne Arundel Fire Department in Maryland, Camden Fire Department in New Jersey, Good Will Fire Company, Leipsic Volunteer Fire Company, Bowers Fire Company, South Bowers Fire Company, Delaware State Police, Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s (DNREC) Police Fish and Wildlife Team, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s Emergency Response Team, the New Castle County Office of Emergency Management, Kent County Department of Public Safety, the Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA), the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay, New Jersey Office of Emergency Management, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Northstar Challenger Salvage Vessel, and Tug Boat Douglas J.
Fireboat 7 returned to Wilmington at 1130am after being cleared by the Coast Guard. The fire was declared out this morning and the barge has been turned over to a salvage company to continue monitoring the situation as it is moved to a dock for unloading. Fireboat 7 pumped nearly 6 million gallons of water during the incident.
The Delaware Bay is an estuary of the Delaware River between Delaware and New Jersey.
Sources: Delaware Government, Wilmington Fire Department
“Fireboat 7 with Engine 2, Battalion 4 and Battalion 11 have been operating at a large barge fire on the Delaware Bay East of Bowers Beach. The barge is hauling scrap metal. It is anticipated that Fireboat 7 will be on location most of the night. Boats from Philadelphia Fire, Bowers Fire, Leipsic Fire and South Bowers Fire are also on scene. A Fireboat from Anne Arundel County , MD is also enroute,” said Wilmington Fire Department in their statement on social media.
The Coast Guard said the barge was towed about two miles (3.2 kilometres) off Maurice River Cove in New Jersey, in order to remove the threat from the main ship channel.
Agencies from the US Coast Guard, the State of Delaware and the State of New Jersey coordinated response efforts.
The barge was carrying salvage metal at the time of the incident. Multiple fire companies worked diligently to extinguish the fire, while state agencies and the US Coast Guard coordinated resources to support response operations and minimise impacts to federal waterways, coastal communities and the surrounding environment.
This morning, the US Coast Guard will ensure the vessel is stable and able to safely proceed to Camden, New Jersey, where the material will be offloaded. The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control continued to monitor air quality in Delaware through a system of land-based air monitors.
The unified response highlights the strong interagency partnership and commitment to protecting public safety, maritime commerce and the environment.
The agencies working throughout the incident included Port Penn Fire Company, Townsend Fire Company, Wilmington Fire Department, Anne Arundel Fire Department in Maryland, Camden Fire Department in New Jersey, Good Will Fire Company, Leipsic Volunteer Fire Company, Bowers Fire Company, South Bowers Fire Company, Delaware State Police, Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s (DNREC) Police Fish and Wildlife Team, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s Emergency Response Team, the New Castle County Office of Emergency Management, Kent County Department of Public Safety, the Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA), the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay, New Jersey Office of Emergency Management, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Northstar Challenger Salvage Vessel, and Tug Boat Douglas J.
Fireboat 7 returned to Wilmington at 1130am after being cleared by the Coast Guard. The fire was declared out this morning and the barge has been turned over to a salvage company to continue monitoring the situation as it is moved to a dock for unloading. Fireboat 7 pumped nearly 6 million gallons of water during the incident.
The Delaware Bay is an estuary of the Delaware River between Delaware and New Jersey.
Sources: Delaware Government, Wilmington Fire Department
