How many of you have experienced a majour grass fire that was caused by a hot wheel on a railroad car. We had one that set fires in four regions and required a turn out of seven departments because of the distance between al the fires that occured.
Was involved in one several years ago which ran about 42 miles in length and 12 departments. We ended getting a check from the railroad for about $18,000 to cover damages to our apparatus and equipment.
I've had a few of those. One last year ended up burning around 40 acres because it was so hard to get trucks close to it. We had to wait for the DNR to get there with their dozers and make some roads, hiking back with scotty packs just wasn't doing the job.
We were spread thin I ended up trying to protect a rec facility with a rescue and five men, thus no water just brooms. Then a truck full of water bottles destined for some office coolers came down the road, he saw our predicament and offered the bottles, that worked but to this day I don't know what he told them back at the plant.
A couple weeks ago there was a fire on the railroad after they were grinding the tracks. Apparently the the water truck didn't soak it down enough because there was about a 1.5 or 2 mile of stretch where the railroad ties and weeds along the tracks caught on fire.
We had one a couple of years ago. Had about 8 departments on it, and it ended up in a junk yard. Our assignment was to protect a laundry mat, and a convenient store. As for the junk yard, the railroad had to pay for someone Else's treasure. Junk yard man, made out good!!
For those that have never experienced the fun of operating near the tracks, this picture is a sure way of losing the hose. The railroad does not always get the traffic stopped.
The ballast (rocks) between the ties is fairly easy to scoop out. Scrape a tunnel under the rails and a furrow between the ties. Run the hose under the rails. This way the hose-line is protected. Afterward, remove the hose, and replace the ballast. The railroad should be advised before and after so that they can come and inspect the roadbed.