Burlington Northern Train Sparks Wildfires Across Edmond

Wildfires break out across central Oklahoma and the metro. A train sparked several fires in Edmond causing a close call for many businesses.

Right along the train tracks, flames were as high as buildings and burning the power lines. Firefighters didn't waste any time knocking down the fire that spread a few miles down.

"The train came by, and some sparks or whatever came off of it and started the fire," said witness, Jason Sillaway.

Sparks from a northbound Burlington Northern train caused several small fires on at least a three mile stretch down Broadway. Edmond firefighters were working nonstop from Memorial to Kelly all the way to 2nd St. trying to keep the fire from reaching nearby homes and businesses. 

1/16/2014 Related Story: Grass Fire Erupts Along Railroad Tracks In Edmond

"It hit basically on the side of the tracks, just on the grass, and from the grass it moved pretty quickly into the inside fence into one of our cars. And then it moved quickly onto one of the telephone poles," said Mike Sealey, General Sales Manager at Jackie Cooper BMW.

A BMW parked along the tracks at the Jackie Cooper dealership was destroyed.

"It probably took just a matter of seconds for that whole car to actually go up in flames," said Sealey. "We were just hoping it wasn't going to blow up or anything. It had gas in the tank. So we were lucky about that."

Fire crews doused water on flames just as quickly as they were spreading. Fortunately, a calm in high winds also helped firefighters to get the fires under control.

"It was crazy. It happened so quickly," said Sealey.

It took firefighters less than an hour to put the fires out. News 9 is still waiting to hear back from Burlington Northern.