Rockland County officials, residents demand investigation into CSX after freight train ignited brush fires
CONGERS, N.Y. -- Officials are blaming CSX and demanding an investigation into the railroad company after brush fires sparked along train tracks and threatened homes in Rockland County on Friday.
Small pockets of fire continued burning overnight, but firefighters said Saturday they had it under control and were extinguishing minimal hot spots.
About two dozen brush fires broke out along a CSX rail line on Friday afternoon, threatening homes from Congers to Tompkins Cove. Officials say the fire consumed about 50-70 acres across the county.
The intense flames melted the siding on four homes and destroyed two sheds and other property, including fences and vehicles. Upwards of 100 people had to evacuate, including Jolly Tom and her mother-in-law, who uses a wheelchair.
"I got a helper, so we went downstairs and got the wheelchair and took her out," Tom said.
Congers resident Maria Brizuela told CBS2 her husband uses an oxygen tank, and Friday's blaze was too close of a call.
"He's on oxygen. He had COVID in '21 ... He got COVID-pneumonia, he's still suffering from it. He's still very fragile, and he gets very scared, very emotional," she said.
Watch Christina Fan's report
Helicopters dropped buckets of water from the air as firefighters used hoses on the ground. Neighbors came together with first responders to protect their properties.
"The firefighters were so tied up with all the different things, and it was work hours, so there was only a couple of [volunteer] firefighters, so everybody pitched in and helped," Congers resident Tom Cunningham said.
Residents praised employees from Goosetown Communications who stopped their day and went into a different type of work mode.
"Those guys were down there the entire time. I mean, they left work. They all came down the end of the block, and they're the reason that block is still there," Congers resident Stacey Wellington said.
The fire came close to both of Cunningham's boats. They did everything they could to ensure they didn't blow up.
"What we did is put the fire truck next to the two boats, and we tried to beat the fire and push the fire back this way when the wind changed," Cunningham said.
"It's overwhelming to know that this could've been such devastation," Congers resident Regina Cunningham said.
Local officials speculate that sparks from a CSX train started fires along 15 miles of track, which spread to nearby fields, including a bird sanctuary.
Officials are saying negligence on the part of CSX may have caused the fire and are calling for a meeting with the railroad company.
The Clarkstown supervisor says the damage left behind will cost each affected town hundreds of thousands of dollars in repairs. He tells CBS2 that CSX may have been scraping the rails, a process done for routine maintenance.
In a statement, CSX says the company is cooperating with Rockland County during this investigation. CSX has reopened train traffic through Rockland County at a reduced speed through the Haverstraw area.
Five firefighters suffered heat exhaustion, and one sustained a minor burn. No civilians were injured.
County officials say Route 9W will remain closed between Short Clove Road/New City Road and Route 304 through Sunday afternoon due to falling trees and rocks.