Large oil fire burning on Staten Island (On CNN now)

[Dan Murphy]

Just an FYI. Looks like a big one, few details at the moment.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

Geez...I've been glued to the news because of the RI fire, and THAT was interrupted with this news. Looks horrific...

 

[Big Dude]

Dan, keep us updated. I can see the smoke plume all the way here in central NJ.

Adam aka Big Dude

 

[MOMTOMOOTOO]

I am about 40 miles away and I see the black smoke like it is around the corner. Just horrrible.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Originally posted by Big Dude
Dan, keep us updated. I can see the smoke plume all the way here in central NJ.

Adam aka Big Dude

Here are two links. It does seem to maybe have been a ship (barge or tanker maybe) and does seem to be burning itself down a bit now. Less than it was.
http://msnbc.com/news/875562.asp?0cv=CB10

http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/Northeast/02/21/staten.blaze.ap/index.html

 

[Annie&Hallie'sMom]

Another Link:

http://apnews1.iwon.com//article/20030221/D7PB4RM80.html

You can see the smoke from where I am. This is actually closer to east/central NJ than NYC

 

[WillyJ]

I've been watching this on the news for about 30 minutes and there looks to be two fires still burning pretty good, but that's down from 6 or 7 earlier so they are getting it under control. . .

It appears there was an accident/explosion when a barge was either loading or unloading some type of oil. . .


They are advising people in the Saten Island area to close their windows, but they said at the moment the Newark airport is unaffected and people in Manhatten should remain unaffected. .

 

[gina2000]

I'm in Woodbridge....right across the Arthur Kill and let me tell you....I could see flames shooting up in the air over trees. I've never seen anything like it.

Helicopters are everywhere.

The priliminary thought is that it was either unleaded gasoline or jet fuel that ignited in a transfer onto a barge.


Please say a prayer that there is no loss of life. This is too close, too soon.