Railroad Track Mechanism Catches Fire in Hinsdale

Hinsdale, IL - Members of Hinsdale Fire Department’s Engine 85 quickly extinguished a fire Wednesday night on the BNSF railroad tracks between the Oak Street Bridge and the Garfield crossing.

No one was injured in the fire, which caught around 8:30 p.m. on the switchgear mechanism that runs along the base of the tracks, according to the Hinsdale Fire Department.

A freight train on the tracks had stopped and initiated emergency procedures when the Hinsdale Fire Department crew arrived, and the train was not involved in the fire.

No hazard remains on the tracks, the fire department reported. BNSF representatives worked to determine the status of the tracks and the switchgear.

As of about 11:15 p.m. Wednesday, the switchgear had been repaired, the freight train was put back in service and the railroad crossings were unblocked, Hinsdale firefighter Steve Tullis reported.