AMY SZPARA

RESERVE – The Port of South Louisiana was called to extinguish a fire on a barge on the Mississippi River in Reserve Monday morning. Triangle Fleeting and Federal Towing also helped to put the fire out in less than a half hour. Mitch Smith, operations director for the Port of South Louisiana, said that they are currently investigating what started the fire. The United States Coast Guard has been called in on the investigation. Fortunately, because it was fleeted, no one was working on the barge and no one was injured. The barge was owned by Bunge Corp of Destrehan. The fire was contained, and no other barges were damaged. According to Reserve Volunteer Fire Deparetment Chief Glenn Bourg, the barge held sacks of corn and the fiberglass covering it caught on fire. “When I arrived it was black and burning heavily,” said Bourg. The fire, which brought a small crowd, was hosed out by emergency port vessels that responded immediately.