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Jordan River Burning Bridge

Notices

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Site Description 1/8/2021 01 Background
At approximately 9:00 pm on January 7, 2021, a railroad bridge over the Jordan River in Salt Lake City, Utah caught fire. The metal rail + creosote treated wood tie bridge has been difficult to extinguish. Local Fire remain on-scene. Sheen, viscous product and burning debris is visible in the river.
Initial Response 1/8/2021 01 Background

Contractors working for the owner of the rail bridge placed boom in the Jordan River at three locations downstream of the burning structure on January 8, 2021. Officials with the Utah Fire Marshall, Utah Department of Environmental Quality and the Salt Lake County Health Department responded and monitored these response efforts.

On January 8, 2021, EPA deployed an On-Scene Coordinator and ERRS Reconnaissance Team to evaluate the situation.
Safety Issues 1/9/2021 02 Jan 9-10

1.  Cold stress on the crews is possible due to the temperature and humidity.  

2.  Proximity to water creates a hazard for hypothermia, slips trips and falls and drowning.  Insulated waders, lifejackets and slip resistant boots will be worn.

3.  Slips trips and falls due to uneven ground and ice

4.  Fire can cause burns, inhalation hazards, and structural integrety issues related to the bridge.  Salt Lake City Fire Department is on site to put out the fire and will maintain control of the fire area and bridge until the fire is extinguished.
Response Objectives 1/9/2021 02 Jan 9-10

1. Extinguish the ongoing fire on the railroad bridge.

2. Deploy boom to catch the sheen on the water.

3. Collect burned debris from the river to reduce the amount of sheen producing material in the water.

4. Keep stakeholders informed of response actions.
Response Operations 1/9/2021 02 Jan 9-10

EPA arrived on scene on January 9, 2021 to monitor response operations and to ensure the protection of human health and the environment.

Boom sets had been placed at three locations prior to EPAs arrival. The response crew manned the incident location overnight to help keep flames and smoke to a minimum. 

A fourth boom location was added on the 9th due to the amount of oily debris falling from the bridge.  Boom sets were adjusted to better accomplish the goal of diverting debris from the middle of the river to the shoreline.  Fire crews successfully extinguished the fire around 1400 on January 9th.  Crews began collecting debris from the boom sets on the 9th.
Planned Activities 1/9/2021 02 Jan 9-10

1.  Crews will continue to remove burned debris from the river, and will begin removing debris from the shoreline.

2.  Crews will continue to maintain boom sets by clearing debris and changing out absorbant boom as necessary.

3. The bridge will be removed begining on Monday 1/11.  Crews will continue debris removal and boom maintanence during bridge removal.