Sibley, Iowa — Brakes on a railcar get the blame for fires this past week near Sibley.
According to Sibley Fire Chief Ken Huls, the Sibley Fire Department was called to the report of the fires along the railroad tracks. He says they were actually called out two different times this past week for similar fires. One time, the fire was approaching a wooden, creosote-covered railroad bridge. Creosote is a dark brown oil distilled from coal tar and used as a wood preservative, but it makes the bridge more flammable. Huls says they were able to stop the fire before it reached the bridge.
He says another train had come along and its crew noticed the fires and called them in. Huls tells us that he was told that the problem train had started small fires all the way up to Mankato.
He says no injuries were reported.
Chief Huls reports that the damage was minimal, and he has been assured by the railroad that the problem has been fixed.
He says the firefighters who responded were on the scene for about half an hour both times.
KIWA Staff Photo
