Rail car catches fire, blocks traffic in Marysville

Published 9:09 am Thursday, June 13, 2024

MARYSVILLE — A traveling rail car caught fire Thursday morning in Marysville, blocking traffic for hours, fire officials said.

Around 7:15 a.m., firefighters responded to multiple reports of smoke coming from a BNSF rail car near 172nd Street NE, Marysville Fire Chief Ned Vanderpol said. The southbound train stopped 4½ miles away at 116th Street NE and State Avenue. A small column of white smoke rose from the train.

“Because it’s a deep-seated fire, it’ll take a long time to get to the actual area that’s burning,” Vanderpol said.

The smoke came from two containers of garbage in the car, according to the Marysville Fire District. Firefighters used a ladder to get to the flames, taking about three hours to fully put it out.

No one was injured, Assistant Chief Thomas Maloney later wrote in a press release. The containers had minor damage.

Maloney encouraged Marysville residents to “dispose all materials properly.”

State Avenue was blocked at 116th St. NE and 122nd St. NE, according to authorities. Just after 8:30 a.m., Marysville police reported the road would remain blocked another hour.

“It’s a mess,” Vanderpol said.

The road reopened at 10:43 a.m.