Bizarre! Oregon Train Trestle Goes Up in Flames – Spews Toxic Smoke

Health warnings have been issued near Sherwood, Oregon due to a massive train trestle that was consumed by a forest-grass fire Monday. The orange color seen in the pictures are the flames consuming the structure!

Monday afternoon, the 600-foot long trestle that stood 50 feet in the air was caught up in a grass fire near the Tualatin-Sherwood Road, and later crashed to the ground in flames.

The trestle is owned by Portland and Western railroad, was part of an active line including some side rails and spur lines that supply a variety of goods and services to Western Oregon companies.

Perhaps the strangest part of the fire is that health warnings were issued to surrounding communities for residents to keep their doors and windows closed, and avoid bringing outside air in until the fire was contained and doused.  Officials say the trestle was treated with (soaked) with creosote and other chemicals, and was sending a plume of black smoke thousands of feet into the air.

By Monday evening it was still smoldering, but most of the smoke was dissipated.

The trestle was considered a total loss, as even the end parts that didn't collapse sustained heavy fire damage.