Apr 21, 2024: CPKC hauls a fire to the firefighters in London, ON

(Satellite)

Normally, the phrase "hot train" means a high priority train. In this case it meant that the contents of five gondola cars were on fire as the train kept moving. The contents were creosote-soaked old rail ties. There were multiple 911 calls from west-side residents as the train rolled through town with flames shooting in the air. I have not been able to determine how many cars were between the crew and the fire in terms of the crew realizing they had a big problem. Nor if the crew size was 1 or 2. Injuries and hazardous materials were not an issue. Damage to an office building (Street View) was a $10,000 issue. Obstructing traffic for 90 minutes was probably another issue.

safe_image for Calls for answers after train on fire rolls through downtown London, Ont.
The train eventually halted at Pall Mall Street and Waterloo Street in central London, Ont., where it took 28 firefighters to knock down the blaze. (Sean Davidson/CBC)

"At one point, 28 fire fighters with 10 trucks were battling the blaze, which took about 90 minutes to bring under control....Somewhere between Strathroy[, where the cars were picked up,] and London is where the fire began." It is being treated as arson. [trains]

1:30 video, Courtesy: London Fire Department

One of the questions being asked is why didn't they stop the train in their yard rather than in a residential district?

1:30 video, Courtesy: London Fire Department

London Fire Department Tweeted two photos with the comment: "Fire crews continue to dose smouldering wooden railway ties at  Adelaide Yard. Using @RosenbauerGroup  T-Rex Aerial Truck."

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