Photos: Massive train tanker car fire in St. Johns area : pic.twitter.com/l8ul9ykFd7
— KGW News (@KGWNews) December 13, 2015
If you were thinking of heading over the St. Johns Bridge today, you're not anymore. A train caught fire this morning near the bridge, setting six tankers ablaze with what Portland Fire and Rescue says is "hot asphalt" and reportedly killing one person. The fire department says it'll take a couple hours to cool, and the bridge is closed, along with Highway 30. Oh, and if you live anywhere near the noxious smoke pluming into the air, you need to stay inside.
NW St. Helens Road/Hwy 30 and St. Johns Bridge closed due to rail fire. Follow @pdxfire for updates. #pdxtraffic pic.twitter.com/24o3KGi1TY
— Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) December 13, 2015
According to the O, the fire began when a truck collided with the train this morning. The fire department says the blaze is near the 7200 block of NW Front, which is just north of that train bridge.
Tanker trains have been a subject of controversy in Portland and around the country this year—though much of the attention has gone to trains pulling crude oil.
#BombTrains in #PDX finally do what everyone (who has been paying attention) knew they would: explode
— Nicholas Caleb (@ncaleb) December 13, 2015
Update, 10:58 am: Portland fire now says the only thing that actually burned in the blaze was fuel from a semi-truck that collided with the train. Earlier the bureau tweeted that the "tanker fire material is hot asphalt." Now it says the cars didn't burn at all.
Rail car fire caused by Semi-truck crash. Only material that burned was fuel from Semi. Rail cars did not burn. No info on driver of Semi
— Portland Fire&Rescue (@PDXFire) December 13, 2015
Update, 11:15 am: The bridge has been reopened.