Towboat fire closes Mississippi River in east Arkansas

HELENA-WEST HELENA, Ark. (AP) — A towboat fire has prompted the U.S. Coast Guard to close a 10-mile stretch of the Mississippi River between east Arkansas and northeastern Mississippi.

A Coast Guard statement says the fire was reported about 10:30 a.m. Wednesday aboard the uninspected towing vessel Jacob Kyle Rusthoven near Helena-West Helena, Arkansas. The vessel was pushed to the Arkansas river bank where firefighting efforts continued.

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The Coast Guard reports 13,300 gallons of fuel were aboard the vessel but no pollution had been reported. Its crew members also were reported safe.