A cargo ship near the site of the Key Bridge in Baltimore caught fire on Monday evening, according to authorities.
The Baltimore City Fire Department (BCFD) responded to the incident around 6:30 p.m. in the Patapsco River. Upon arrival, the BCFD fireboat crew located the W-Sapphire, a 751-foot bulk carrier.
The vessel showed “signs of damage consistent with a fire and explosion,” BCFD spokesman John Marsh told NTD in an emailed statement.
The ship’s crew confirmed that all 23 people on board were accounted for and uninjured, Marsh said.
Footage of the incident shared on social media captured large flames and dark plumes of smoke coming from the vessel.
“This is a unified incident involving the ship’s owner, the Baltimore City Fire Department, the Port of Baltimore, and the United States Coast Guard. Fireboats remain on scene as the Coast Guard and other agencies begin their investigation,” Marsh said.
The ship remained afloat as the fire was contained. The vessel was assisted by tug boats, according to Marsh, and will be moved and anchored to a designated area and held there until cleared by the United States Coast Guard.
Monday night’s incident happened near the wreckage of the Francis Key Scott Bridge, which collapsed last year after a massive container ship struck one of the bridge’s piers.
It remains unclear what caused the fire. The incident remains under investigation.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
