Fireworks barge catches fire

Thursday, July 5, 2001 | 11:02 a.m.

ATLANTIC CITY -- A spectacular blaze on a fireworks barge finally burned itself out early today, and authorities were trying to determine what sparked the fire.

Seven people were taken from the 300-foot barge by the Coast Guard, but no serious injuries were reported.

The barge was one of two in a fireworks display being staged Wednesday by Bay Fireworks of Long Island, N.Y., for three Atlantic City casinos owned by Park Place Entertainment Corp. of Las Vegas: Caesars Atlantic City, Ballys Park Place and the Claridge.

The 30-minute display began at about 9 p.m., and some witnesses said they mistook the fire for the show's finale. The blaze finally burned itself out at about 4 a.m., state police said.

"I didn't know what it was at first," said LisaMarie Martinez, 26, of Hamburg, N.J. "I knew the fireworks looked low, then all the sudden the fire started. I've never seen anything like that before."

Authorities said one barge was for the show's 25-minute main portion and the other was for a four-minute grand finale. Both were less than a mile offshore, but it was not clear on which barge the blaze started.

At the height of the fire, sporadic explosions of shells could be heard along the resort's boardwalk. The blaze sent some shells high into the sky.