As a result of the smoke emanating from the mulch fire at 610 Christiana Avenue, normal port operations at the Port of Wilmington, Delaware have been modified to minimize the effect on its employees and cargo.
At about 2:00 p.m. Monday and until conditions improve, officials say, cargo operations were suspended on the Dole and Chiquita vessels moored at the Port, and truck-loading operations were suspended at all refrigerated warehouses under Port control.
The fire was reported at 2:34 p.m. Sunday on a property occupied by Port Contractors, located on the 600 block of Christiana Road.
Arriving firefighters found that the large fire was being fed by mulch, wood pallets and other debris.
The flames grew rapidly due to gusting winds. Water was drafted from the Christina River to help douse the flames. Front end loaders and other heavy equipment were brought in to break apart and extinguish the burning piles.
One firefighter has sustained non-life threatening injuries and has been treated and released from the hospital. No additional injuries have been reported.
