Fire On BNSF Train 6-2-26 (Photo)
- 06/03/26
On Tuesday, June 2, 2026 around 3:15 p.m. Bend Fire & Rescue responded to a reported train on fire just south of Baker Road near Deschutes River Woods. 911 callers from Morningstar School and BNSF reported fire coming from the lead locomotive. Fire crews arrived to find smoke and flames on top of the locomotive where the braking system is housed. Fire extinguishers and water were used to extinguish the fire quickly. No injuries were reported.
The engineers on board were heading north on BNSF’s line from Klamath Falls when they felt a jolt on the train before seeing smoke. They were able to quickly stop the train before entering town to prevent blocking traffic lanes and prevented a brush fire from taking off by coming to rest in an area where a fire break had been created by previous wildfire mitigation efforts. No cargo or other locomotives were threatened by the fire. BNSF stopped all north/south traffic in the area until the damaged locomotive could be removed, and the train could be moved to a central Bend staging yard. Cheyenne Rd was closed for a time during the incident to allow firefighting hoses to be deployed to the locomotive.
This unique response highlights the various aspects of firefighting that crews need to be prepared for. By using the expertise of the train crews and past experiences, the fire was quickly stopped while ensuring safety for everyone on scene. Locomotives create immense amounts of electricity to move the heavy trains and that same electricity makes fighting fires on them extremely dangerous.
This incident also highlighted a community effort in Deschutes River Woods led by the neighborhood association, Bend Fire & Rescue, the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s office (OSFM) and in party by BNSF. A grant from OSFM was awarded in 2024 to help reduce the vegetation in and around the large subdivision. Large areas of open land on both sides of the railroad tracks were mechanically mowed to remove overgrown brush and create a fire break along the eastern edge of the neighborhood. This was done to prevent the spread of wildfire into or out of the neighborhood. This cleared area not only provided a safe working zone for firefighters - it also reduced the risk greatly that the fire in this train could have spread to the neighborhood. This is an example of where creating defensible space around your home and neighborhood can help protect your home from more than just wildfires. Learn more about creating defensible space on your property at bendoregon.gov/own-your-zone.
Fire On BNSF Train 6-2-26 (Photo)
- 06/03/26
On Tuesday, June 2, 2026 around 3:15 p.m. Bend Fire & Rescue responded to a reported train on fire just south of Baker Road near Deschutes River Woods. 911 callers from Morningstar School and BNSF reported fire coming from the lead locomotive. Fire crews arrived to find smoke and flames on top of the locomotive where the braking system is housed. Fire extinguishers and water were used to extinguish the fire quickly. No injuries were reported.
The engineers on board were heading north on BNSF’s line from Klamath Falls when they felt a jolt on the train before seeing smoke. They were able to quickly stop the train before entering town to prevent blocking traffic lanes and prevented a brush fire from taking off by coming to rest in an area where a fire break had been created by previous wildfire mitigation efforts. No cargo or other locomotives were threatened by the fire. BNSF stopped all north/south traffic in the area until the damaged locomotive could be removed, and the train could be moved to a central Bend staging yard. Cheyenne Rd was closed for a time during the incident to allow firefighting hoses to be deployed to the locomotive.
This unique response highlights the various aspects of firefighting that crews need to be prepared for. By using the expertise of the train crews and past experiences, the fire was quickly stopped while ensuring safety for everyone on scene. Locomotives create immense amounts of electricity to move the heavy trains and that same electricity makes fighting fires on them extremely dangerous.
This incident also highlighted a community effort in Deschutes River Woods led by the neighborhood association, Bend Fire & Rescue, the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s office (OSFM) and in party by BNSF. A grant from OSFM was awarded in 2024 to help reduce the vegetation in and around the large subdivision. Large areas of open land on both sides of the railroad tracks were mechanically mowed to remove overgrown brush and create a fire break along the eastern edge of the neighborhood. This was done to prevent the spread of wildfire into or out of the neighborhood. This cleared area not only provided a safe working zone for firefighters - it also reduced the risk greatly that the fire in this train could have spread to the neighborhood. This is an example of where creating defensible space around your home and neighborhood can help protect your home from more than just wildfires. Learn more about creating defensible space on your property at bendoregon.gov/own-your-zone.