The Canadian Transportation Safety Board is investigating a bizarre fire aboard a Canadian Pacific Kansas City Railway freight train in a London, Ontario residential neighborhood around 10:49 p.m., April 21, according to reports from numerous news agencies and the London Fire Department.
Witnesses reported seeing the CPKC train moving through the city as flames shot out of five gondola cars. It was discovered that the cars were carrying used railroad ties, which were heading for disposal.
The train stopped in a residential area along Waterloo and Pall Mall streets adjacent to a multi-story office building. CPKC crews uncoupled the locomotives and cars behind the burning gondolas, giving the London Fire Department better access, says Colin Shewall, fire department platoon chief. At one point, 28 fire fighters with 10 trucks were battling the blaze, which took about 90 minutes to bring under control.
Shewall did not indicate how the fire started, but stated it was being treated as an arson incident. The railway ties had been picked up from outside London, in the Strathroy area, says Shewell. Somewhere between Strathroy and London is where the fire began.
There were no injuries and no reports of hazardous materials being involved beyond the creosote in the ties. Damage to the railcars is estimated at $25,000. The office building sustained more than $10,000 in damages.
Glad to hear there were no injuries. That had to be one hot train!