Vehicle Barge Fire in Ship Channel; Mobile, Alabama

PXJ4+4W Mobile, AL, USA | 2026-Jan-12

Initial Notification: On January 12, 2026, U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Sector Mobile notified the NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator (SSC) of a fire aboard a salvage auto barge that caught fire and ran aground on the Mobile River downstream of the Cochrane Bridge. The USCG requested support from the NOAA SSC regarding threat assessment and possible modeling of smoke plume. The NOAA SSC provided initial recommendations on air monitoring, as well as spot weather forecast. More details regarding site conditions and the barge cargo are pending further assessment. The USCG Gulf Strike Team is enroute to conduct air monitoring. The SSC remains on standby for further support.