N.Y. Fuel Barge Spill Brings Blast Fear, Bridge Closings

A 300-foot-long barge loaded with 3.1 million gallons of gasoline ran aground on rocks in New York’s harbor late Wednesday, spilling hundreds of thousands of gallons of gasoline into the East River flowing alongside some of Manhattan’s most densely populated neighborhoods.

Firefighters, fearing a spark could touch off major explosions, closed a nearby railroad bridge and a major section of the Triborough Bridge, a main commuter roadway.

All along the river, firefighters were summoned to take readings to see if gasoline fumes in the air had reached explosive potential. While residents in Manhattan clearly could smell the gasoline being carried downstream by a 5-m.p.h. wind and a swift current, firefighters said several hours after the incident the potential for explosions had not been reached.

Spill Called ‘Major’

In the darkness, it was hard to determine precisely how bad the leak was. But police labeled the spill “major.” The Coast Guard said at least one of the barge’s tanks containing 350,000 gallons of fuel had ruptured.

Dozens of fire engines, police emergency vehicles and ambulances converged on the shoreline opposite the barge. Fire-fighting foam was rushed to the area in case the gasoline ignited.

“We have a major leak. We have a tremendous amount of fumes here. The barge is aground on the rocks,” a police commander reported. The police moved hundreds of spectators from a nearby park as the level of gas fumes increased.

A police spokesman said the barge went aground at 9:56 p.m. as it was being towed northward on the river by a tugboat. The barge contained 10 large compartments filled with gasoline. As the tide went out, the barge became more exposed, increasing the flow of fuel.

Major portions of the river were closed to ship traffic and a Coast Guard tugboat stood by as preparations to refloat the barge were under way.

“Right now the gasoline is floating downstream and evaporating,” said Homer Bishop, chief of the New York Fire Department. “ . . . We don’t feel there is any imminent danger.”

However, residents living near a 5-mile section of the river were calling the Fire Department complaining about gasoline fumes, the chief added.

Plans existed to bring another barge alongside the damaged vessel and to try to transfer remaining gasoline, when the tide allowed. Fire officials also notified Consolidated Edison, which operates electric generating stations alongside the East River, to be particularly cautious.