Explosion Rips Through Floating Barge (Chicago)

CBS 2 Chicago ^ | 01-19-2005 | CBS 2 Chicago

[Drago]

Jan 19, 2005 4:57 pm US/Central CHICAGO (CBS 2) A violent explosion has ripped through a barge that was floating freely on the sanitarian ship canal just east of Cicero Avenue overpass on the Southwest Side.

The back half of the barge was consumed by fire. Initial reports indicate that it was a petroleum barge.

Additional debris from the explosion has been blown quite a distance onto the Cicero Avenue bridge. Police worked to close the bridge and clear it rush-hour traffic...

[Calpernia]

ping

[Pyro7480]

And so it begins?

[af_vet_1981]

I doubt it is alQaeda because both Chicago and Illinois obeyed BinLaden's voting instructions.

[Strategerist]

And so it begins?

You mean flammable materials exploding or catching on fire accidentally? I think that's been going on for a while.

[presidio9]

[dakine]

tin foil...or is that Tim Foli...?

[dawn53]

What does "floating freely" mean?

[Toespi]

not anchored or docked

[wireman]

"And so it begins?"

What exactly are you referring to?

[Strategerist]

It means it's not tied to anything, just floating around. According to the article, a tug was pushing it when the explosion happened.

[presidio9]

[dawn53]

Thanks!

[Toespi]

Per Fox News: Barge leaking unknown substance into canal.

[Dog Gone]

That's a waste of good petroleum. Get out the marshmellows.

[Pyro7480]

I'm referring to the dirty bomb threat, and now something actually happening.

[Pyro7480]

No es bueno! No es bueno! Hope it's just petroleum or something common.

[Dog Gone]

I'm not sure someone with a screen name like yours should even be posting on a fire thread.

[Pyro7480]

LOL! I've been a member since 1999. In fact, I know I've conversed with you.

[presidio9]

Using a dirty bomb on an oil barge would be extremely wasteful on the part of the terrorists. We had a barge catch fire on Staten Island last spring and the hysterics were out then too.