BNSF Railway fire sends up dark smoke

Spokane firefighters on Wednesday extinguished a stubborn fire that broke out in a pile of railway ties at the BNSF Railway yard in east Spokane.

The fire broke out before 11 a.m. and sent a thick plume of black smoke rising upward from the railyard, known historically as Yardley, located east of Havana Street and south of Trent Avenue.

Assistant Fire Chief Brian Schaeffer said the fire apparently was caused by sparks from welding equipment being used nearby.

The Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency, the state Department of Ecology and Spokane Water Department were all notified, in case of any environmental concerns, after a large volume of water was used to put out the creosote-coated ties.

Staff reports