An environmental response team from the Canadian Coast Guard remains tonight at the scene of an extinguished freighter fire at the Purvis Marine dock near Algoma Steel.
The response team arrived today from Parry Sound, Samantha Di Lorenzo from Fisheries and Oceans Canada told SooToday at 7:30 p.m.
"There is no sign of marine pollution. The fire is now extinguished," Di Lorenzo said.
She referred to the incident as a "fire and resulting explosion."
The Canadian Coast Guard, the lead federal agency responsible for ensuring marine safety throughout Canadian waters, was assisted at the waterfront by Sault Ste. Marie Fire Services.
"The safety and protection of the marine environment remain our priority. We are diligently working with our partners and appropriate agencies to monitor this situation. Updates will be provided as they are available," Di Lorenzo said.
Ontario's Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks says the fire on the Mississagi was caused by workers cutting into a bunker fuel tank.
"No materials have been spilled as a result of the explosion and fire," ministry spokesperson Gary Wheeler told SooToday.
"The risk of fuel impacting the river is low because the vessel’s hull remains intact."
"We understand that the explosion and fire happened when workers were cutting into a bunker fuel tank. The Sault Ste. Marie fire department reports that the fire has been left to burn out to decrease the risk of any fuel impacts to the river."
Later this afternoon, Wheeler contacted us to say the fire was now out.
Wheeler says ministry staff joined the Coast Guard at the scene today to assess the situation.
The fire broke out last night on the Mississagi, which has been docked at the Purvis scrapyard since 2021.
The photos above the video below were taken late this morning.
We continue to report on this story and will provide more details as they become available.
