NEW ORLEANS: The remains of an abandoned river pier went up in flames over the weekend in New Orleans as fireworks went off nearby, but officials have yet to determine whether the display played a role in the raging fire.
The Times Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate reported that the fireworks began at around 10:30 on Saturday night.
City records show that a permit was obtained for a land-based pyrotechnic display along the Mississippi River at Mardi Gras World, where many of the floats used in the annual Carnival season processions are stored. Inspectors from the New Orleans Fire Department supervised the show, which was put on for a gala.
Within 30 minutes of the start of the demonstration, a fire broke out in a wooden crate from the East Market Street pier a few hundred feet above the river.
Winds pushed the fire closer to the entrance of an active pier, where police noticed it. The fire department said in a statement that more than 40 firefighters doused the blaze, which spread to about four blocks. No one was reported to be injured.
David Spear, co-owner of AFX Pro, which puts on the fireworks show, told the news outlet that he understands that pyrotechnics should be investigated in relation to the fire.
But he said the flames began more than 200 yards (182 meters) away from the required evacuation zone between the demonstration and homes, vehicles or people. Spear also said that the winds were well below the safety limit at the time and the decision to continue the fireworks was made in consultation with a fire department inspector.
The former wharf used to store heavy material which was brought to the port by ships. Termites attacks and Hurricane Katrina damaged it, and a 2006 fire almost completely destroyed the facility while it was being demolished.
Disclaimer: This post has been self-published from the agency feed without modification and has not been reviewed by an editor
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