Fire collapses most of an 85-year-old railroad trestle in Sherwood

A grass fire spread to a train trestle in Sherwood Monday afternoon, August 10, 2015.

Within 30 minutes of the first 911 calls, some of the trestle’s support beams began to collapse.

“As the firefighters are trying to extinguish those hot spots, they’re navigating the terrain and the structure instability”, said Chief Cassandra Ulven.

Officials are investigating the cause, but investigators with the Sherwood Police Department do not believe it was set intentionally. Pamplin reports that the fire could burn for several days before it is completely extinguished. TVF&R said that the Portland & Western railroad bridge will have to be deconstructed at a later time. A short while later, the trestle collapsed.

The terminate easily expand and was dropping the trestle, which is certainly portion of Portland & Western Railway Rex Hill connection and reaches a fenland plants areas. The railroad described the trestle as infrequently used.

Officers haven’t but decided the reason for the blaze, however by Tuesday morning greater than 50 firefighters had contained the hearth. Four businesses to the east were evacuated.

The goal is to protect the neighborhood south of the burning trestle and the businesses to the north.

SW Tualatin Sherwood Road at SW Century Drive is now closed to traffic while crews fight the fire.

Firefighters remained on scene Tuesday morning to monitor any further collapse and ensure the flames didn’t spread.

The firefighter was taken to Legacy Meridian Park Medical Center in Tualatin. He is recovering at home.