Firefighters Respond To Rail Car On Fire In Kelso (Photo) -03/12/25

Kelso, WA – Firefighters from Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue were dispatched to a rail car on fire late Tuesday night just before midnight at the BNSF rail line near Talley Way and Coweeman Park Dr.  Firefighters arrived on scene and made contact with the Union Pacific representative who informed them that the rail car was hauling garbage from the Seattle area to Arlington, OR for disposal.  Firefighters had to cut into the side of the rail car to access and extinguish the smoldering contents. 

 

Before the operation began, the Incident Command Officer, in conjunction with the Union Pacific representative, shut down travel on all train lines for safety purposes. 

The fire was extinguished just before 2am Wednesday.  No injuries were reported.  The cause of the fire was undetermined.     

One Dead And Five Displaced After Home Catches Fire In Kelso WA (Photo) -03/06/25

Media Release. Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue

March 6, 2025

 

On March 6, 2025 at 1042hrs A caller in the 1000 Block of S 6^th Ave. in Kelso WA called 911 to report something on fire. The caller relayed that the neighbors house was on fire. 911 dispatchers sent a 1^st alarm residential fire response from Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue. While responding to the call, dispatchers were advised that someone was trapped in the garage. A 2^nd alarm was requested by the responding Battalion Chief before any fire units arrived on scene based on the dispatcher’s information.

The first arriving unit was a Battalion Chief that reported a Single-Story home plus a detached garage well involved in fire. Neighbors pointed to a small detached garage, advising that one of the residents was trapped inside. Firefighters searched the home while also extinguishing the fire in the garage and primary residence. The fire conditions inside the garage were “fully involved” and the fire had already flashed over before the first firefighters arrived. 2^nd alarm units from Longview Fire and Cowlitz Fire District 5 responded and assisted with fire extinguishment. The fire was brought under control at approximately 1055 where the garage was able to be searched and a deceased male was located. Kelso Police Department along with Cowlitz County Coroner’s Office are conducting the investigation into the man’s death.

Fire investigators findings indicate the cause of the fire was accidental in nature as a result of a portable electric heater. In all, the response included 8 fire companies, 2 Battalion Chief, and 2 Chief Fire Officers as well as multiple officers from Kelso Police Department. 5 other residents including 3 adults and 2 children are displaced and are receiving temporary housing through the American Red Cross. Damages are estimated at $175,000.

 

Battalion Chief Joe Tone