Freight Car Fire Deemed Suspicious by MA Officials

A fire that ignited on a railroad freight car in Westfield on Tuesday is being considered suspicious by fire officials, and they are asking for the public’s help.

Westfield firefighters arrived at the area behind 181 Notre Dame St. at around 6:45 p.m. after receiving a report of a railroad car on fire, according to a statement from State Fire Marshal Jon Davine’s office. Firefighters noticed the freight car’s doors were open, revealing large flames inside it.

“Railway fires come with a unique set of hazards to firefighters and the public, and this was a very challenging fire for us to knock down,” Westfield Fire Chief Patrick Egloff said in the statement. “We had to cut our way into the freight car to fully extinguish it.”

After the fire was knocked down, firefighters found that most of the freight car’s contents were destroyed by the flames. Investigators also noticed signs of forced entry and further damage in the freight car, Davine’s office said.

Due to these circumstances, Davine and Westfield Police Chief Lawrence Valliere said in the statement that they are asking anyone with information about the fire is urged to call Westfield police detectives at 413-572-6400.

“Anyone who observed people or vehicles near the train tracks north of Notre Dame Street yesterday evening may have information that could help us,” Valliere said in the statement.

Davine emphasized that “if the fire had spread, we could have seen a serious risk to the community.”

The fire continues to be under investigation by police and fire officials, including the Massachusetts State Police Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit.

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