Authorities kept their distance as a fire raged on board a pair of fuel barges on Thursday morning, hours after exploding at a docking area on Alabama's Mobile Bay.

Steve Huffman with Mobile Fire and Rescue said conditions remain too volatile for fire crews to approach. At least six explosions have been reported and were heard up to 20 miles away.

Just half a mile across the bay, Alan Waugh, the general manager at the Ft. Conde Inn, said he saw and heard the initial explosion when it happened.