(The following article appeared on the Manitowoc Herald Times website on September 1.)
MANITOWOC, Wisc. — A railroad trestle over the Manitowoc River caught fire Thursday afternoon, causing at least $250,000 in damage and closing the bridge to rail traffic.
The Canadian National-owned trestle’s creosote-treated timbers made extinguishing the blaze difficult, and the bridge was going to be watched throughout the night, according to a news release from Manitowoc Fire Department Battalion Chief Timothy Herzog.
There were no injuries, and the fire remains under investigation.
Smoke was reported on the trestle — located near Clay Pit Road — just before 3 p.m. Thursday, and a portion of the bridge was engulfed in flames when the fire department arrived.
The fire was unreachable from either shore, so fire crews attacked the blaze by stretching hoses out along the trestle.
“This extinguished the fire on top of the trestle, but a large volume of fire (remained) burning underneath in the large wooden supports,” Herzog said in the release.
The fire department used two boats to battle the blaze from below — one using a hose stretched from shore, and the other pumping river water. The fire was under control by about 5 p.m.
Canadian National officials were on the scene Thursday, and estimated the damage at $250,000 to $300,000. Herzog said the bridge has been closed to traffic, but repair crews are expected to arrive today and the bridge may reopen by the middle of next week.
Railway officials told fire department authorities the rail line is used twice a day, Manitowoc Fire Department Capt. Mark Rusboldt said. Rusboldt did not know if the rail line was used just prior to the fire.
Canadian National officials could not be reached by the Herald Times Reporter on Thursday.
Herzog said some timbers fell from the trestle and floated downriver, and advised boaters on the Manitowoc River to use caution. The U.S. Coast Guard was at the fire scene.
Due to the creosote-treated wood, the fire department used special extinguishing agents on the blaze, Herzog said. The products caused a white foam on the river surface, but Herzog said it was not hazardous and will dissipate over time.