Railroad Ties Catch Fire On Tracks Along Interstate 205

PORTLAND, Ore. — Smoke from a fire in Northeast Portland on Friday morning could be seen from Vancouver.  The fire started in a stack of railroad ties on the tracks along Interstate 205 near the Killingsworth Street exit around 6:15.

Railroad tires are extremely flammable because they are coated with creosote.  That stirred up a lot of smoke in the area.

It didn’t take long for crews to put out the fire, but the Killingsworth exit from Interstate 205 southbound is closed for the clean-up and investigation.

The tracks are owned by Union Pacific Railroad.