(The following article by Alexis Huicochea was posted on the Arizona Daily Star website on May 20.)
TUCSON, Ariz. — Someone intentionally set fire to a railroad bridge on the South Side Thursday night, causing $30,000 in damage, officials said.
The portion of the track that burned is near South Nogales Highway near East Bilby Road, said Capt. Paul McDonough, a Tucson Fire Department spokesman.
When firefighters arrived on scene just after 6:42 p.m., there was heavy flame and black smoke, he said. Initially, it was thought to be a brush fire, started by the sparks of a passing train, but after looking at the burn pattern, it was obvious that the fire was started from underneath the bridge that the tracks rest on, he said.
It took 35 minutes to get the blaze under control, McDonough said. The fire burned the heavy timber, which can be up to 24 inches thick, that supports the tracks under the steel.
It is not clear if it will be safe for trains to use, he said, but Union Pacific, the company that owns the railroad, is confident the damage is not that serious.
If the damage turns out to be too extensive, all trains headed to Nogales will have to be put on hold because there is no alternative track, McDonough said.
The fire was contained to the bridge, he said. No injuries were reported; there were no suspects late Thursday night.