Laurel Beager – International Falls Journal
A fire that destroyed a Canadian National Railway trestle early Wednesday morning appears to be an accident.
An investigation shows evidence of a mechanical failure.
“There is no sign of foul play,” Koochiching County Sheriff Perryn Hedlund said yesterday.
The investigation was conducted in conjunction with the state fire marshall, the International Falls Fire Department, and CN Police.
The site of a train derailment and bridge fire early Wednesday morning on the CN crossing near Ericsburg was closed yesterday as trucks hauled away material.
Crews, meanwhile, worked through the night to remove the rail cars and repair the bridge.
The fire destroyed the bridge with three rail cars still on it.
Hedlund said he had visited the scene, escorted by a security guard, yesterday morning.
He said the guard ensured safety as crews and heavy equipment removed the last rail car from the scene.
