Coast guard responds to barge fire near southwest Alabama

The Coast Guard says a barge carrying scrap metal caught fire on a river near southwest Alabama.

A news release says the barge caught fire on the Mobile River around 10 a.m. Sunday. No crewmembers were reported to be aboard the barge when it caught fire.

There have been no reports of pollution or injuries. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

The barge is aground on the riverbank.

A Coast Guard Station Dauphin Island 45-foot (15-meter) Response boat crew was escorting vessel traffic through the area.

(Associated Press, copyright 2018)