[kattracks]

Huge fire at N.Y.C. oil refinery

Blaze might have started on barge at Staten Island complex

MSNBC STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

NEW YORK, Feb. 21 ? A huge fire was burning Friday at an oil refinery on New York?s Staten Island. Intial reports said a barge had caught fire, starting a huge blaze that sent black smoke into the air, making it visible for miles.

FIREBALLS COULD be seen as TV news helicopters aired live images of the fire.
       Chief William Van Ward of the New York Fire Department said it appeared a barge had caught fire as it was refueling.
       Van Ward said no reports of injuries had been received.
       U.S. intelligence officials told NBC News that they have no information linking the explosions to terrorism.
       
       The Associated Press contributed to this report.
       
       This breaking news story will be updated as information becomes available.
       

[CPI News]

(ABC News Photo)

A fuel barge docked next to an oil refinery is on fire in the New York City borough of Staten Island.

The three-alarm fire started at 10:10 a.m. ET, according to a spokeswoman for the New York Fire Department.

Television photos showed an enormous plume of black smoke shooting up.

Further information was not immediately available.

Go to www.cpinews.net for updates...