Campfire Blamed for Sparking Blaze that Destroyed Railroad Bridge in Lincoln, NE
Lincoln Journal Star, Neb.
(TNS)
Inspectors have determined the cause of a fire that destroyed a railroad bridge in west Lincoln.
About 3:45 a.m. Monday, crews with the Lincoln Fire and Rescue were called to a fire involving the railroad bridge over Salt Creek, near Sun Valley and Westgate boulevards.
The bridge, which was older and built with heavy timber, eventually collapsed.
On Tuesday, LFR spokesperson MJ Lierman said fire inspector Chuck Schweitzer determined the fire to be caused by an unattended campfire. There were no injuries reported.
Earlier, Lierman said there was a known homeless encampment in the area. Temperatures overnight were in the single digits.
The bridge is owned by Union Pacific and is an active line that is also used by BNSF.
Lierman said the bridge, which collapsed later Monday morning, was considered a total loss.
Lincoln Parks and Recreation said in a news release that the paved portion of the Salt Creek Levee Trail that travels under the two bridges is closed due to bridge damage.
Trail users should use the limestone trail east of the paved trail to avoid the closed area, which is marked.
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