Blue Origin subcontractor barge fire caused by fuel spill

A fuel spill aboard a barge for a Blue Origin subcontractor caused a small fire Thursday morning, according to the private rocketry company. 

The fire happened about 9:30 a.m. and was put out. No one was injured and there were no serious damages, Blue Origin officials said.

The barge was parked at a port run by Patrick Air Force Base, according to Canaveral Port Authority. 

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Blue Origin officials said the fire broke out while work was being done to cut a weld holding one of Blue Origin's propellant tanks onto a barge at Port Canaveral. The work was being performed by Hansa-Meyer, who is under subcontract to Chart Industries, which is providing the tanks to Blue Origin, the company said.  

Blue Origin is bankrolled by Amazon founder and billionaire Jeff Bezos.

Stancil is a breaking news reporter for FLORIDA TODAY and TCPalm.

Contact Stancil at 321-242-3662

or lamaur.stancil@tcpalm.com.

Twitter: @tcpalmlstancil