Freight train sparks multiple fires in Portland — 05-20-2020

Portland Press Herald wrote:Portland firefighters battled a fire in an abandoned building near Bell Street in the North Deering neighborhood on Wednesday.

The two-story brick structure stands next to railroad tracks, and behind a series of connected light industrial buildings.
. . .
Portland Fire Chief Keith Gautreau said it was started by a passing freight train that had a locked wheel, which threw sparks onto the area near the tracks.

Firefighters put out multiple smaller brush fires within about a half-mile area between the Bell Street fire and the area near Bruno’s Restaurant at 33 Allen Ave.

One person was transported to the hospital with minor injuries from smoke inhalation, Gautreau said.
. . .
Curtis Duvaul, an employee of a business that was evacuated, said there were two or three small fires that erupted after the train passed through.