On Friday night, a southbound BNSF freight train ignited a fire in its rear locomotive and continued moving for at least 20 miles before coming to a stop near Deschutes Junction, north of Bend. The incident began shortly after 9 p.m. when a witness in Terrebonne reported seeing smoke and flames trailing the train.
Firefighters respond amid challenging conditions
Bend Fire & Rescue Duty Battalion Chief Darren Root told the Bend Bugle that crews arrived to find the locomotive still burning and debris scattering along the tracks. “It was dropping debris as it rolled down the tracks,” Root said. “They had a lot of fire, but it takes miles for trains to stop.”
Because of the fire, crews unhooked the burning locomotive from the rest of the train to prevent the flames from spreading to other cars, some of which were suspected of carrying hazardous material. No injuries, evacuations, or shelter‑in‑place orders were issued for nearby residents.
Logistical hurdles
Firefighters faced additional obstacles due to rain‑softened ground, which limited vehicle access, and a lack of nearby fire hydrants. “We had to bring in mutual‑aid water from Redmond Fire,” Root explained. Despite these challenges, the blaze was contained by about 11:30 p.m., and crews began leaving the scene around midnight.
Root confirmed that there was no reported damage to the other railcars or the track infrastructure. After the fire was extinguished, the damaged locomotive was reattached, and the train continued its southbound journey.
Community impact and next steps
The incident underscores the importance of coordinated emergency response in Central Oregon’s rural corridors. While no one was harmed, the fire highlighted the risks associated with transporting freight through remote areas and the need for adequate water resources for firefighting.
The Bend Bugle reached out to BNSF Railway for comment, but had not received a response by Saturday afternoon.
Residents in the Deschutes Junction area can expect normal rail operations to resume shortly, and local authorities will continue monitoring the tracks for any lingering safety concerns.
Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.
