Portsmouth City Incinerator Fire; Portsmouth, Virginia

Portsmouth, Virginia | 1986-Mar-05

Initial Notification: At approximately 0900 on March 5, 1986, the U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Office (MSO), Hampton Roads, Virginia, received a report from the Portsmouth Fire Department that a fire involving magnesium phosphide was burning at the Portsmouth City Incinerator. Approximately 100 half-pound bags of the pesticide, improperly placed in a dumpster, had begun to smoke and burn. The fire department was called to the scene and attempted to extinguish the fire with water. During the fire-fighting operations, several people were injured. USCG district 5.