CTA Report: Grease, Debris Caused June Red Line Fire
CHICAGO (STMW) - Excessive lubricating grease and debris on subway tracks helped contribute to a June 20 Red Line fire that terrified passengers and sent 19 people to the hospital, according to an internal CTA report.
The confidential report, obtained by the Better Government Association, also found problems with the way the CTA reacted to the fire, including a supervisor's decision to tell the Chicago Fire Department not to come once a train operator had reported the fire was dissipating.
The total cost of damage for the incident was $1.1 million. The CTA found the fire was caused by an electrical arc between the running rail and the restraining rail at a curve near the Clark and Division subway stop.
The report recommended changes in protocol, including using less lubricant on the tracks, calling firefighters whenever there is smoke in the subway, and requiring trains to stand in a station or park at the nearest station whenever there is smoke in the subway.
According to the report, an operator going north at Chicago on the Red Line reported a fire just outside the station. The CTA's Control Center called the Chicago Fire Department. The operator later told Control that the fire seemed to be dissipating on its own, and Control called back firefighters to cancel the request for help.
The fire department called back to say it would be coming anyway. The Control Center told the train operator to keep going north.
The train operator later told the Control Center -- by phone since his radio had died -- that on going forward to the Clark/Division station, he saw the fire but could not stop because of all the smoke.
Once he stopped at Clark/Division, he opened his side doors and the passengers got off the train.
Another train was following and was forced to stop near the fire and smoke, which "severely impacted visibility," and wait until the train at Clark/Division had cleared before he was allowed to continue.
On arriving at Clark/Division, firefighters evacuated the second train.
Covered grease containers were on the right-of-way in the southbound tunnel, which is separated from the northbound tunnel by a concrete wall. While that grease was not involved in the fire, all grease storage containers are now either kept outside the subway or in a storage closet with a fire-rated door, CTA spokeswoman Sheila Gregory said.
The CTA also is looking for an alternative to the current lubricant with a higher flashpoint, so it won't catch fire as easily. The current flashpoint is 302 degrees.
The report also recommended a regular cleaning schedule for debris on the right-of-way. Debris is cleared from tracks on curves weekly, and on the remaining track every three to four weeks, Gregory said. The CTA is looking into placing radio chargers on board trains.
Derrick L. Patterson, a 21-year CTA veteran who was a manager at the Control Center, was fired after the incident. Gregory said that he was fired due to a "number of factors" related to the incident.
Meanwhile Thursday, Gov. Quinn said he would honor his commitment to deliver some $93 million in CTA funding that was promised in exchange for a two-year freeze on CTA fares. He said the money would be sent "as soon as we possibly can."
"No, they aren't going to raise fares," Quinn said. "We have an agreement that we have with the RTA. They will get the funds necessary to make sure the fare freeze for this year and next year continues. We're in a tough economic time, and there aren't going to be any fare increases on the CTA."
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