April 14--KNOXVILLE -- A rail car loaded with wooden railroad ties caught fire Sunday, shooting flames as high as 30 feet into the air as the freight train rolled through West Knox County, officials said.
The first Rural/Metro fire engine responded about noon and followed the moving train for several minutes until it managed to come to a complete stop near West Emory Road at Brickyard Road in the Powell area, Rural/Metro Capt. William Kear said.
"They were pacing the train," he said.
A stretch of West Emory was shut down for about an hour while crews ran hoses from a nearby hydrant, attacking the flames with water and then fire-fighting foam. The fire was brought under control within about 25 minutes, Kear said.
The open-top Norfolk-Southern rail car was separated from the train and its cargo was unloaded to ensure that the flames were fully extinguished.
No hazardous materials were onboard and no injuries were reported.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
More details as they develop online and in Monday's News Sentinel.
Copyright 2014 - The Knoxville News-Sentinel, Tenn.
