Truck crashes into train causing massive fire in Oregon (PHOTOS) A large industrial fire has erupted in northwest Portland, Oregon after a truck crashed into a train, causing a massive fire.
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Black smoke billows over the Willamette River in Portland, Or., near the St. Johns Bridge following a railcar fire on Sunday, Dec. 13, 2015. Nearby residents were urged to shelter in their homes, although PF&R says the alert was precautionary and no residents were in danger during the incident.
The agency’s major crash team is investigating along with Portland Fire & Rescue’s fire investigators, the police bureau said.
The fire occurred on a side track owned by Portland & Western Railroad. A semitrailer truck crashed on a roadway near a Portland railroad yard, sparking the rail-car fire that sent up plumes of black smoke that were visible for miles.
Foster says 8 train cars were damaged in the Sunday morning blaze, one severely. The blaze sent flames 70 feet high, as well as a tall plume of thick, black smoke over the city, officials said.
No other injuries were reported.
TBNSF spokesman Gus Melanos says the railways main lines were not impacted.
Foster says an exact cause of the fire is still unknown.
Portland police Sgt. Peter Simpson says the highway is closed and a half-marathon race in the area is canceled.
Police say the material burning is hot asphalt that will take until around noon to cool.
Video shows spectacular flames towering over treetops in the area. Residents can expect to see residual smoke and steam during this time, they said.
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