July 2, 2007 - Rail Road Fire, Portland Road

On Monday, July 2, 2007 at 10:30PM, a first alarm assignment (3 Engines, Ladder Truck, Medic Unit and Battalion Chief) responded to a freight car at the 3800 block Portland Road NE.

When firefighters arrived they discovered a box car packed with paper products fully involved with fire. Firefighters worked throughout the night separating the paper materials from the box car. The box car has been moved to an auxiliary track so there is no interference to the railroad. To extinguish the fire, the box car top had to be removed and the box car tipped on its side. All the contents of the car were removed and water trucks dumped large volumes of water on the material in order to completely extinguish the smoldering paper 

Information provided that the box car belonged to Union Pacific and the contents to Garten Services Inc.

The cause of the fire is under investigation by Union Pacific. The loss is estimated at over $8,000 ($8,000 Box Car & Undetermined for Contents).

The cause is under investigation.