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Tug assisted in fire fighting after helicopter crashed, killing two, and set barge on fire

Two people died on Aug 7, 2025, at 11 a.m., after a helicopter they were on board crashed into a barge on the Mississippi River near Alton, Illinois, shutting the waterway to traffic near Alton, Illinois. The MD 369 helicopter hit power lines before the crash No one was on board the barge, which caught fire after the crash, which occurred about 200 yards downstream from the Melvin Price Lock and Dam. The barge was carrying ethylene glycol, a chemical commonly used in antifreeze and coolant. The 'Donna H. Furlong' went alongside and helped extinguish the fire along with fire fighters. The fire could be put out within one hour. The Missouri State Highway Patrol immediately closed the Clark Bridge after the crash. The Clark Bridge reopened two hours later. First responders on the scene included fire and police departments from Alton, East Alton, and Wood River. Authorities temporarily blocked off the Lock and Dam Way, the road lining the eastern bank of the Mississippi River in Illinois. An NTSB investigator was expected to arrive on site on Aug 8. USCG investigative officers as part of the Incident Management Department, were also on the scene. There were no signs of pollution in the Mississippi River as a result of the crash. The Power company Ameren Corp sent a contractor and subcontractor who were repairing and replacing tower lighting and marker balls on transmission lines. The river was closed for shipping from mile marker 199 to mile marker 201. There was no estimate for when the river would reopen. Reports with photos and video: https://www.thetelegraph.com/news/article/mississippi-river-helicopter-crash-coast-guard-20807305.php https://www.thetelegraph.com/news/article/helicopter-mississippi-river-alton-20807028.php https://www.firstalert4.com/2025/08/07/crews-respond-helicopter-crash-alton-ill/ https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/07/us/helicopter-crash-barge-missouri-mississippi.html https://www.stlpr.org/news-briefs/2025-08-07/alton-helicopter-crash https://people.com/two-dead-after-helicopter-crashes-onto-barge-on-mississippi-river-after-striking-power-line-tragic-incident-11787340