London Ontario - London Fire says no one is hurt after five train cars caught fire travelling
eastbound through downtown London late Sunday night.
Multiple crews were called to the area of Richmond Street and Pall Mall Street, a residential section of downtown,
at around 22:49 after numerous witnesses called 911.
The train was travelling on the tracks owned by CPKC and was eventually brought to a halt in front of an office
building and an apartment complex.
Crews were able to disconnect the locomotives so firefighters could put out the fire.
"There was exposure to a building closeby, but we were able to contain the fire away from the building," said
London Fire platoon chief Colin Shewell.
"Additional crews arrived on scene, and within an hour, we were able to put a good knock down on the fire and
really put it under control in about an hour and 20 minutes."
CPKC moved the cars to its rail yard on Quebec Street after fire crews cleared the scene.
From there, firefighters continued to work to put out smoldering material.
CBC News has requested comment from CPKC and will update this story when someone is made available.
The cars were carrying old railway wooden ties, with no dangerous goods involved, fire fighters said.
The ties had been picked up from outside of London in the Strathroy area, said Shewell.
Somewhere between Strathroy and London, they ignited, although it's not yet known how.
"We will treat everything as arson until proven otherwise," said Shewell.
"These were scrap railway ties, so there's really no dollar value on them. They were actually destined to be
destroyed."
The investigation is now in the hands of CPKC's own police oversight body, he said.
Damage is estimated at $25,000 to rail cars and $10,000 to the office building used by Drewlo Holdings.
Author unknown.
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