Rail Tanker Allowed To Burn

DOUGLAS COUNTY -- Fire crews were letting a rail car filled with liquid sulfur burn Thursday night in Douglas County.

The decision to let the cars burn was made after it was decided the fumes coming from the fire, pictured left, was causing eye and skin irritation to some people in the area, fire officials told 7News. Firefighters were pulled off the blazing rail cars and were gathered at a command post at South Metro fire station about a mile away from the fire and a safe distance from the potentially hazardous fumes.

"The rail car is filled about one-third full with the liquid sulfur," Andy Lyon from West Metro Fire and Rescue told 7News. "We are meeting with the folks from Burlington Northern to decide what is the best way to put the fire out."

The rail car was parked at a rail yard near Hwy 85 and Titan Road when it caught fire after crews were doing welding work on the rail car. The workers thought the fire was out so they continued to work in the area before complaining of skin irritation. That is when fire officials returned to the scene and spotted the flames and secured the area.

There were no immediate evacuations but firefighters were asking people in the area to stay inside and avoid the area.

Firefighters were letting the rail car burn and were considering using a backhaul to dump dirt on the fire.