Train Derailment Over Tempe Town Lake Causes Large Fire

TEMPE, AZ — A train derailment and large fire on a bridge over Tempe Town Lake has caused a number of traffic closures in the area and a smoke-related injury to at least one person. Tempe police said Wednesday morning that all of downtown Tempe should be avoided due to the wreck.

Anywhere from 8-10 Union Pacific train cars derailed, CBS-8 San Diego reporter Neda Iranpour reported on Twitter, adding that one person has smoke inhalation due to the fire. There were no other known injuries as of 9:30 a.m., Tempe police said.

Arizona Republic reporter BrieAnna J. Frank has shared live updates from a late morning news conference with Tempe Mayor Corey Woods on the derailment via her Twitter feed. Tempe Assistant Fire Chief Andrea Glass also spoke during the conference and said it was the train conductor who suffered the smoke inhalation.

The train was headed from Phoenix to Tucson and derailed while along the Salt River Union Pacific Bridge, according to an Arizona's Family news stations report.

L-202 was closed in both directions late in the morning between State Road 143 and L-101 due to the wreck, according to an update from the Arizona Department of Transportation. All L-202 ramps were closed between SR 143 and L-101. As of 1 p.m., ADOT tweeted that L-202 Red Mountain between SR-143 and L-101 had been reopened. No timetable was set to reopen any other closed freeways.

Arizona's Family news staff has shared several photos of the wreck here. Flames and black smoke remained visible from the bridge three hours after the wreck. A witness told the news outlet the aftermath of the wreck looked like "a scene from hell."

* CLOSURE * L-202 is closed in both directions between SR 143 and L-101 because of a train derailment and fire in Tempe.
All L-202 ramps are also closed between SR 143 and L-101.

THERE is no estimated time for reopening. #phxtraffic pic.twitter.com/UK6rBxDqKC
— Arizona DOT (@ArizonaDOT) July 29, 2020

In an afternoon press conference, Tempe Fire Chief Greg Ruiz said this was a four-alarm fire, indicating this is a "very, very large event." As crews of firefighters continue to contain the fire, Ruiz said the pressing concern now is containing the leak of cyclohexane, a flammable liquid, seeping from one of the cars. It is not leaking into Tempe Town Lake, however, he said.

Officials also discussed a prior incident on June 26 involving another Union Pacific train fire in the area. Tempe Fire confirmed they were dispatched to put out a rail tie fire at that time but that the incident was very minor and quickly turned over to Union Pacific to investigate. Union Pacific representatives were not present at the press conference but are active at the scene of the fire.

Ruiz also said one firefighter had been transported to the hospital with dehydration after battling the fire in sweltering heat but is "fine" and has since been released.

Tempe Police Chief Sylvia Moir said she expects the containment and subsequent investigation of the derailment to be a "mutli-day, even perhaps a multi-week effort."

This is a developing story. Check back here later for updates.