Crews extinguished a burning barge Friday, hours after it struck a railroad bridge, erupted into flames and drifted for miles down the Mississippi River, apparently spilling oil.

The river remained closed to traffic while officials determined whether more fire could ignite.

The barge, which was carrying crude oil, broke away from three others after hitting the bridge in Vicksburg on Thursday. The barge drifted for about 2 1/2 hours before it was corralled and pushed against the riverbank about 12 miles downstream, the Coast Guard said.

Coast Guard and environmental officials flew over the area Friday to determine the scope of the spill, Chief Petty Officer James Tylman said.

The remaining oil was to be transferred to tank barges before crews began work to salvage the burned barge, Tylman said.