The following is text of a news release from the U.S. Coast Guard:
(NEW ORLEANS) — The Coast Guard is responding to a vessel fire on the Lower Mississippi River near West Helena, Ark., on Wednesday.
Coast Guard Sector Lower Mississippi River watch standers received a notification at 10:30 a.m. of a fire aboard the uninspected towing vessel Jacob Kyle Rusthoven near mile marker 673 on the Lower Mississippi River.
Jacob Kyle Rusthoven was pushed to the Arkansas bank of the river where firefighting efforts continue. There is a reported 13,300 gallons of fuel on board with no reports of pollution at this time.
The Coast Guard issued a waterway closure between mile marker 664 and mile marker 674 on the Mississippi River.
The crew of Jacob Kyle Rusthoven were reported safe.
