Train started fires across a mile of railroad, West Thurston chief believes
A freight train is believed to have triggered a series of small brush fires in south Thurston County Tuesday morning, according to the West Thurston Fire chief.
About 11:25 a.m., crews were dispatched to U.S. Highway 12 at Denmark Street, Chief Nathan Drake said.
The train was headed east at the time, but eventually turns south and heads to the Centralia area, he said.
Four fires were triggered along a mile stretch of railroad in the area, he said.
Those fires burned brush and grass, but did not cause any property damage, Drake added.
Drake said he believed the train was causing the fires, so they had Thurston County 911 stop the train.
Although Drake thinks the train caused the fires, it wasn’t immediately clear how, he said.
It was hot and dry on Tuesday, with the daytime high reaching 88 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.
