Large fire erupts when truck carrying ethanol hits train at B.C. rail yard
by The Canadian Press
Neither the truck driver nor any rail staff were hurt in the blaze. Firefighters allowed the fire to burn itself out
PORT COQUITLAM, B.C.—Firefighters were still on the scene of a large fire in Port Coquitlam, B.C., late Jan. 22 after a collision in a CP Rail yard.
The city says the blaze began when a tanker truck carrying ethanol gas hit a CP Rail car at about 7 p.m.
There were no reported injuries and the city said on Twitter that the truck driver and rail employees “are all safe.”
Fire Chief Nick Delmonico said firefighters were letting the blaze burn itself out.
“We have a fairly extensive fire and we’re trying to remove hazards from the area (and) other trains in the yards with other types of dangerous goods,” he said.
“We’re letting the fire burn at this point and trying to remove other stuff out of the way before we start trying to extinguish it.”
Port Coquitlam RCMP have evacuated an 800 meter radius around the railyard as a precaution.
A section of the Lougheed Highway in the area was expected to remain closed for several hours.
—With files from News1330
