Two Injured in Tugboat Fire in South Louisiana
By: John Walton
Updated: March 13, 2013
Lafitte, LA -- Two people were injured when a tugboat struck a natural gas line in Bayou Perot Tuesday evening, causing a large fire.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Coast Guard said the flames reached nearly 1,000 feet into the sky.
NBC affiliate WDSU in New Orleans reported that the tugboat was moving a barge with 5,000 gallons of fuel.
One person on the barge suffered serious burns. He is currently being treated at the West Jefferson Medical Center, and will be moved to the burn unit at Baton Rouge General when he is stabilized. One other person fell off the barge and was given X-rays, but did not suffer any burns.
The Coast Guard is currently investigating the explosion, and said details will be forthcoming.
