CSX crews work through night to restore train traffic on Potomac River bridge after fire

Both rail lines on a trestle bridge spanning the Potomac River from Maryland to Harpers Ferry, W.Va., are expected to be ready for train traffic Tuesday after a fire in the middle of the bridge on Monday.

"CSX teams inspected the bridge and confirmed its structural integrity. CSX teams worked safely and expeditiously through the night to replace damaged ties and rail," CSX Transportation spokesperson Bryan Tucker said in an email Tuesday morning. "One of the two rail lines on the bridge reopened to train traffic at 3:30 a.m. ... We expect the other to be restored by 11:30 a.m."

The rail lines service freight trains as well as MARC and Amtrak, Tucker said.

The fire brought firefighters from at least three counties.

There was no train on the bridge at the time of the fire, Washington County Emergency Services Director R. David Hays said Monday night.

Tucker said the cause of the fire is still being investigated.

Hays said when railroad ties get older they can dry out and become susceptible to fire from sparks from crossing trains. But he did not know if that was what happened in this case.

The fire was reported at 3:38 p.m. Monday, a Washington County 911 supervisor said.

Hays said firefighters had the fire under control around 5:30 p.m. Monday and units were leaving the scene around 8 p.m.

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Arriving firefighters from Potomac Valley Fire Co. found a large fire in the middle of the bridge that appeared to be spreading rapidly, Hays said. CSX was notified to stop train traffic on the bridge.

Additional firefighters from Washington County and Jefferson County, W.Va., were called, Hays said. As firefighters realized the extent of the fire, more assistance was called for from Washington, Jefferson and Frederick County, Md.

Two boats were in the river in case a firefighter were to fall, Hays said. None did.

No injuries were reported, but one firefighter was treated on scene for minor dehydration before resuming activity, he said.

Hay said 68 firefighters responded.

"CSX appreciates the swift response of the local first responders that extinguished the fire," Tucker said.

Challenges in battling fire in middle of railroad bridge over Potomac River

The challenges included finding a sustainable water source and accessing the fire in the middle of the bridge over the river, Hays said. There are gaps between the railroad ties, through which the river can be seen.

There are two railroad bridges that cross the Potomac there and this was the one that did not have a walkway, so firefighters had to cross the railroad ties, with a handrail along one side, to get to the fire, he said.

Tanker trucks were used to supply water until a dedicated water service was accessed via a hydrant in Harpers Ferry, Hays said. There were no hydrants on the Maryland side of the bridge.

The hose line had to be extended about 500 to 700 feet across the bridge, which Hays estimated was about 100 feet above the water.

There was a lot of smoke due to the well-involved fire, Hays said.

The temperature was in the low to mid-90s at the time of the fire, Hays said.

Thermal imaging from a drone and buckling in metal tracks on the bridge indicate the fire reached above 1,600 degrees, Hays said.

There were significant buckles in two tracks, Hays said. There also were 15 to 20, possibly more, ties that were damaged.

Among the resources on scene was an air-conditioned mobile ambulance bus and the county's air and rehab units, Hays said.

Sandy Hook Road was closed for about 4 hours during the response.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Railroad bridge from Maryland to West Virginia closed after fire