Bnsf Crews Begin Track-Grinding Operation Sparks May Fly, But Railroad Has Fire Teams, Equipment Ready

Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway crews on Thursday started track grinding operations from the Washington state line near Hauser to Sandpoint. The work continues through Sept. 2.

The railroad received a burn permit from the state of Idaho, according to Bruce Fahrni, spokesman for the North Idaho Interagency Fire Prevention and Information Center. The state suspended all burn permits Aug. 15. Officials made an exception for Burlington Northern due to the amount of safety equipment the company is providing and the precautions it is taking, Fahrni said.

In light of the existing fire danger, North Idaho fire officials issued a statement emphasizing the work is safe: “If you see sparks flying at night, realize that the equipment and operators are well-prepared and trained to handle any little fire that might result from work.”

The grinding is an “essential maintenance task,” reducing track defects “which can result in broken rails with the potential for train derailment,” according to information the railroad provided officials.

The work - occurring between 9 p.m. and 9 a.m. - received a permit requiring a safety and operation plan, according to the interagency fire center. Grinding equipment includes spark protection and crews will have 40,000 gallons of water. For more information, call BNSF’s John Stanford at corporate headquarters in Texas at (817) 352-1983 or the fire center at (208) 666-8670.

Meanwhile, numerous lightning strikes at Priest Lake and north of Sandpoint sparked at least two new wildfires near Sandpoint. Three-person fire crews were checking on the fires Thursday afternoon.

Storms were expected to move northeast Thursday night.

Two roads and four trails near the 305-acre East Thunder fire will close to public access Saturday. The fire was expected to pick up and spread to the north and southwest. The closures affect the Char Creek and East Fork roads and the Savage, Savage Creek, Rattle Ridge, Thunder Creek, Mud Creek and East Fork Peak trails.

The U.S. Forest Service has also closed the Flathead and Kootenai national forests to public access due to extreme fire risk.

“Things just keep getting a little more interesting,” Fahrni said.