By Associated Press
Tuscaloosa AL – A passing train, combined with high midday temperatures and dry weather, sparked multiple fires along tracks that burned nearly a mile and a half of woodland.
Lt. Mark McElroy of Tuscaloosa Fire and Rescue said the first fire started when a train passed through the area bordering Partlow Developmental Center at about 11:15 a.m. Tuesday
McElroy said the train sparked more fires as it continued along the track's right of way, which combined into one larger blaze. It came close to several unoccupied buildings on the Partlow campus, but no one was injured nor were any buildings damaged.
"It spread to the woods on the facility's (grounds) where the fire got to about 40 feet high," Lt. Darryl Harbin told The Tuscaloosa News. "When that happened, our primary concern was putting it out before it got to a (maintenance) building about 150 yards away. We stopped it at just about the halfway point."
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Information from: The Tuscaloosa News, http://www.tuscaloosanews.com