BURKE, Va. — Hundreds of wooded pallets caught fire while being transported on a Norfolk Southern train in Burke Tuesday afternoon.
According to Fairfax Fire and Rescue, crews were called to Lee Street just after 3:15 p.m. after 300 wooden pallets caught fire on the train.
Upon arrival, firefighters extinguished the flames using foam. The train was in the cargo section of an unoccupied train, firefighters said. No injuries have been reported.
Crews are working to move the impacted train out of the area but the clean-up is expected to take a couple of hours. Officials have shut down the tracks in the area in both directions while crews work to clean up what remains of the fire.
The track closure will affect Virginia Railway Express (VRE) and Amtrak commuters Tuesday evening.
There is no word on what may have started the fire at this time.
Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly identified the train involved as a CSX train. It was a Norfolk Southern train. The story has been changed.
