A burnt machine belt on a United Grain barge prompted a heavy emergency response at the Port of Vancouver Wednesday morning, at least at first.
A possible ship fire was reported to 911 at 10:20 a.m. after someone saw smoke from a barge on the Columbia River at the port, 1905 N.W. Harborside Drive.
Arriving Vancouver firefighters went aboard and learned there was no actual fire, and that it was only a burnt belt that caused the smoke, said Vancouver Fire Battalion Chief Chris Lines.
The response was downgraded and a Portland Fire & Rescue boat was canceled.
