26 April 2010

Second Fire on Viaduct

Port Hope firefighters talk with a CP Rail maintenance worker while he stands on the railway
viaduct which caught fire on Friday afternoon.

Port Hope Ontario - Firefighters responded to the CP Rail viaduct Friday for the second time in a week after railway ties caught fire.
 
Port Hope firefighters received the call around 4 p.m. on Friday.
 
"The fire was well-seated," Chief Fire Training Officer Bob Cranley said.
 
"Our initial attack was our foam truck, spraying with the high-pressure nozzle from the ground."
 
Firefighters quickly set up their aerial platform truck which knocked down most of the fire.
 
Crews then accessed the tracks and, using axes, and cooling the ties, made sure the fire was completely out.
 
A freight train was passing through the flames on the bridge when the first fire crews arrived on the scene, Cranley said.
 
Last Sunday, a similar circumstance occurred when numerous railway ties caught fire just to the west of Friday's fire.
 
In 15 years on the fire department, Cranley said he's never been to two fires on the viaduct before.
 
"Whether it's human or a spark from the train, it's really hard to say."
 
A CP Rail maintenance worker arrived on the scene on Friday and examined the railway line before rail traffic was allowed to resume.
 
CP Rail is working with the fire department to find the cause of both fires.
 
Pete Fisher.