Mobile Fire-Rescue reports that three people are hurt in multiple fuel barge explosions on the east side of Mobile River on Wednesday night, April 24, 2013, in Mobile, Ala. (Mike Kittrell/mkittrell@al.com)

Update at 2:30 a.m. A seventh explosion rocked the Mobile River at roughly 2 a.m. A Coast Guard official told AL.com the safety zone is still in place. The official also re-iterated it is gasoline - not LNG - that keeps the fire burning. Firefighters are still standing by as the fire burns through the night.

MOBILE, Alabama -- Three people were hurt in a fuel barge explosion on the east side of Mobile River on Wednesday night, Mobile Fire-Rescue reported.

The fuel barges were at Oil Recovery Co. of Alabama's Marine Gas Free Facility at 200 Dunlap Drive on the Mobile River's east bank.

The barges were partially emptied, according to Steve Huffman, spokesperson for Mobile Fire-Rescue.

The first blast happened when a three-man cleaning crew was on site, said Lt. Mike Clausen with the U.S. Coast Guard. One of the three was blown into the water by the force of the blast, but quickly rescued, he said.

The three men were taken to USA Medical Center with burns, and were in critical condition, according to Bob Lowry, a spokesperson with USA Medical Center.

"Barge cleaning is dangerous work" because of the fuel vapors, which are highly flammable, Clausen said.

Mobile City Councilman William Carroll, who was at the scene, said the explosions were triggered by a static charge.

The barges contained multiple compartments to transport fuel, said Lt. Timothy Williams with the U.S. Coast Guard. Rescue personnel believed there were other compartments on the barges with residual fuel, he said.

The Carnival Triumph, in Mobile's port undergoing repairs, was evacuated. Crew members were directed to the Arthur Outlaw Convention Center, according to a report from Local 15.

Spectators were asked to move away from the waterfront. Employees at nearby Austal were given permission to leave.

A bystander captured one of the explosions on

.

Firefighters were unable to fight the blaze because of subsequent explosions, and planned to allow the fires to burn out, Williams said. The Coast Guard closed the ship channel and also issued an order to restrict flight access at the site, he said.

There was no damage to the nearby Bankhead Tunnel, Huffman said.

The first explosion occurred about 8:30 p.m. Subsequent blasts were reported at 9 p.m., 9:30 p.m., 9:51 p.m., 10:37 p.m. and 11:30 p.m.

The first blast rattled windows in houses in downtown Mobile and blew doors open in homes in Spanish Fort, news outlets reported. The aftershocks were also reported in Bay Minette and Fort Morgan.

Attempts to reach Oil Recovery Co. of Alabama representatives were not successful.

According to the company's website, the facility features a protected slip capable of simultaneously handling 300-foot barges and motor vessels, a fully bermed tank farm, vacuum services for product stripping, high-volume barge venting services, oily water and slops disposal, short-term lay berth accommodations and temporary fuel storage capability.

Customer services include tank cleaning for "entry and hot work," product transferring and storage, oily water and slops removal, barge stripping and venting for product change, in-line respirator valve maintenance, post salvage cleaning and small boat launch and spill response.

The website states, "A terminal crew of licensed tankermen, CDL equipment operators and confined space certified tank cleaners have extensive experience in their related fields. Our 'Zero Lost Time' record is a tribute to the quality of trained professionals manning this facility."