The Transportation Safety Board has confirmed that it is launching an investigation into a train that was engulfed in flames as it travelled through a major Ontario city last month. The CPKC train travelled eastward through London, Ontario, shocking onlookers and prompting the fire department to urge residents to stay indoors as crews battled the flames. The fire was eventually brought under control after the train came to a stop near Waterloo and Pall Mall streets. No injuries were reported, and the impacted train cars contained used wooden railway ties. The smouldering train was then moved to a railway yard, where crews continued to address hot spots.
The Transportation Safety Board has decided to move forward with a formal investigation into the train fire. The investigation will be Class 5, a lower-level investigation that does not require a comprehensive look at what happened or a detailed investigation report. However, data on Class 5 occurrences are recorded for possible future safety analysis, statistical reporting, or archival purposes. The likely cause of the fire was determined to be sparks from the locomotive exhaust, along with the airflow of the moving train, which caused the flames to spread to each subsequent car. Preliminary findings suggest that the train crew became aware of the fire between Caradoc and London, and took decisive actions to isolate and separate the burning cars.
Once the fire was discovered, the train crew immediately stopped and cut away from the tail end of their train, isolating the six open top gondola cars. They then slowly pulled the cars to a safe location and separated the locomotives from the gondola cars. The London Fire Department praised the CPKC rail crew for their decisive actions in responding to the fire. Fire crews continued to address hot spots at the railway yard, using specialized equipment to extinguish the smouldering wooden railway ties. The investigation by the TSB will gather additional information and evaluate the evidence to determine the cause of the fire and any contributing factors.
The TSB’s investigation into the train fire will provide valuable information for future safety analysis and reporting. The investigation will focus on the circumstances surrounding the fire, including the possible causes and contributing factors that led to the train being engulfed in flames. By collecting and analyzing data from the incident, the TSB aims to improve safety measures and prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. The Class 5 investigation may not require a detailed report, but the data collected will be used for statistical reporting and archival purposes.
The train fire incident in London, Ontario, serves as a reminder of the importance of safety measures in the transportation industry. The quick response and decisive actions taken by the train crew and firefighters helped prevent injuries and control the situation. The TSB’s investigation will shed light on the events leading up to the fire and provide insights that can be used to enhance safety protocols in the future. By learning from this incident, the transportation industry can improve its safety standards and ensure the well-being of passengers and communities along the railway routes. The investigation will continue to gather information and evaluate the evidence to determine the root causes of the fire and any lessons that can be learned to prevent similar incidents from occurring.
