On January 7, 2021 at around 9:00 PM, a railroad bridge over the Jordan River in Salt Lake City, Utah caught fire. The metal rail and creosote treated wood tie bridge was difficult to extinguish and local fire crews remained on-scene. Sheen, viscous product and burning debris from the bridge is visible in the river.
Utah State DEQ and County Health officials arrived on the scene to monitor environmental conditions and the response efforts of contractors working on behalf of the owner of the rail bridge. The contractors have placed boom in the water at three locations downstream of the burning bridge.
On January 8, 2021, EPA deployed an On-Scene Coordinator and ERRS Reconnaissance Team to evaluate the situation. The EPA OSC will coordinate environmental assessment and response activities, if necessary, with Utah State DEQ and local officials.
On January 9, 2021 the fire was extinguished by local fire crews. The sheen in the river has diminished and the owner of the bridge will demolish it.
