(The following article by Trinity Hartman was posted on the Spokesman-Review website on March 18.)
SPOKANE, Wash. — Union Pacific railroad has been sent bills for two fires started by trains last summer and fall.
The railroad will be asked to pay approximately $19,000 to the state Department of Natural Resources to reimburse the costs of fighting the fires, according to state documents obtained this week.
Union Pacific has received the bills and sent them along to its claims department for review, said spokesman John Bromley.
“If it’s determined we were responsible, we will pay it,” Broml ey said.
Bromley, who is based in Nebraska, said he was not familiar with the stretch of track south of Spokane Valley where the two recent fires occurred.
The tracks go up a steep grade past wooded hillsides as they head toward Mica.
Train-caused fires continue to worry fire officials.
More and more homes are being built in the area and could be at risk if a train sparks a wildfire, said District 8 acting chief Dan Blystone.
Trains in the Mica area have sparked one fire each summer, on average, during the past decade, according to DNR documents.
The largest fire in recent years was a train-caused fire in July of 2000 that burned 40 acres.
Hot carbon particles have been blamed for many of the recent fires. The particles collect on the sides of exhaust stacks on a diesel locomotive. If allowed to build up, the embers can dislodge and spark fires along the tracks.
Bromley said mechanics routinely check the locomotives for carbon buildup. They are particularly vigilant in summer months, Bromley said.
People need to remember that Union Pacific has 33,000 miles of track, he said.
“As a practical matter, it’s hard to single out a specific spot for some type of abatement,” Bromley said.
While UP gets bills for fires started by trains, the company is not fined by the DNR because the fires are considered accidental.
The Spokesman-Review requested records from the DNR about the fires last summer. The records were received this week.
The fire on Sept. 5 burned 22 acres and threatened several homes. UP was sent a bill last month for $14,776, according to DNR records.
The fire on Oct. 6 burned 2.2 acres. UP was billed $4,310 for that fire, records show.