PORTLAND, Ore. – A fire is reported Tuesday afternoon on BNSF Railway’s former Spokane, Portland & Seattle bridge over the Columbia River connecting Portland with Vancouver, Wash.
The bridge, which parallels Interstate 5, hosts Amtrak Cascades and Coast Starlight services, as well as BNSF and Union Pacific freight traffic.
Trains News Wire will continue to report as details are available.
Here’s a picture from the folks at McCuddys Marina of a fire in N. Portland. PFR says it’s on a train bridge. They’re having a tough time getting to the fire. No injuries reported. pic.twitter.com/W35e9wmKFy
— John Hendricks (@JohnKPTV) February 26, 2019
N Marine Dr and N Portland Ave: crews reporting heavy fire and smoke from railroad bridge. Several difficulties in accessing this fire. Crews attempting to advance hose lines now. No injuries reported. #alert. @PBOTinfo
— Portland Fire&Rescue (@PDXFire) February 26, 2019
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I was sitting across the Columbia at Waterfront Park and saw a lot of black smoke. It kept up for awhile so I turned on Portland Fire, Marine Band and Vancouver Yard on 161.250 on my radios.
Portland Fire called out rigs to Hayden Island and across the trestle on Marine Drive side. The also called 2 Fire Boats, I saw one coming from PDX Airport to assist.
Vancouver Yard and Bridge Control were active. There was a grain train sitting on the Turnstile bridge not moving. They were instructed to move north to the yard slowly. They apparently have Flir camera and detected hot spots on the 9th and 30th cars to investigate.
The fire was put out, a 600 volt line to the trestle had to be deactivated before further fire suppression went on. BNSF informed Portland Fire that no one could go on the trestle without fall rigging.
I had leave the park so I didn’t follow up. Listening to Vancouver Yard it was apparent that things were tied up on N, S and East tracks. I imagine there was quite a few delays on this one.
https://www.koin.com/amp/news/local/multnomah-county/smoke-from-n-portland-railroad-bridge-seen-for-miles/1812230254