Field fire ignited from sparks on railroad tracks

[Ken Weller]

from WLFI TV18 on line:

Field fire ignited from sparks on railroad tracks


Updated: Monday, 23 Apr 2012, 3:04 PM EDT
Published : Monday, 23 Apr 2012, 12:54 PM EDT


WHITE COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI) - White County dispatchers said a fire has broken out in a field on State Road 43.

Officials said they got a call on a fire sometime between noon and 12:30 Monday afternoon.

Fire crews are being sent to the field, which is located on State Road 43 between County Road 700 and 800 south, just north of Brookston near railroad tracks.

Chalmers Deputy Fire Chief Ron Hill said, "The train was making sparks on the railroad tracks, which ignited several fires from south of brookston to south of Chalmers. The wind and dry ground furthered the spreading of the fire."

Both the Chalmers Fire Department and Prairie Township Fire Department responded to the scene.

The fire is spotty at this time.

NewsChannel 18 has a crew en route to the field and will bring you more details, photos and videos as we receive them.

[Jim Wolfe]

I saw them on the way to work. There was one grass truck and a pumper unit. There were only 4 firemen on scene. The firemen were right on top of the ROW along the rail. I would not say it was anything too big to worry about.

Sometimes I think the news people get a little out of hand with the stories. LOL It looked like they had everything under control when I went by. No damage to the ROW that I could see.

Jim