High winds fueled a spectacular late-night blaze at the former Market Street Wharf in New Orleans late Saturday. Crews remained on Scene Sunday morning dousing the blaze by land and by boat.
Firefighters were called to the Clarence Henry Truckway at Felicity Street for a reported fire and found the fire a short distance away at the old Market Street Wharf.
Flames had engulfed the creosote-soaked pilings and heavy timber planks of the old wharf and a second alarm was called 20 minutes after units arrived.
At the peak of the fire, the equivalent of four-city blocks were blazing as winds pushed the fire up-rover.
Firefighters on land and using a fire boat tried to stop the spread of the blaze, but the brisk winds proved challenging.
The fire did not threaten the new wharf, according to Capt. Edwin Holmes.
About 40 firefighters staffing 16 emergency vehicles responded to the fire and as the fire was contained, Holmes said crews were released from the scene.
Firefighters were expected to remain on scene most of Sunday mopping up.
