Train trestle fire in Newberg ‘like a scene from Gone with the Wind’

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A fire on a wooden train trestle close to an apartment complex in Newberg prompted response from multiple emergency crews early Sunday morning.

Just before 3 a.m., crews from both Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue and Dundee Fire arrived at scene, finding heavy flames burning through the elevated trestle, “dangerously close” to a nearby apartment complex, officials said.

Corinne Tate – who lives with her husband, Tom in a home directly overlooking the trestle – recalled the moment firefighters came knocking on her door at the time the fire broke out, requiring them to evacuate.

“I looked, and right there in my face was that trestle on fire,” Corinne said. “We got dressed, and I was out the front door in less than five minutes, ready to go.”

“It was like a scene out of ‘Gone With the Wind’ when they burned Atlanta,” Tom recalled. “It was this huge, awesome wall of fire.”

“I wouldn’t call it awesome. I would call it frightening,” Corinne replied.

Both she and her husband then drove to the parking lot of George Fox College while crews worked through the early morning hours to prevent the fire from spreading.

While the blaze also risked coming near a retirement home, firefighters were able to keep it contained to the trestle and avoided the need for further evacuations. The Tates have also since returned to their home safely.

“By the time we came home from church [Sunday morning], everyone was gone,” Tate said. “There was just a lot of ashes and yucky stuff in the road, and the road was closed, and so that was kind of the end of it.”

Although no injuries were reported, the trestle – which officials said belongs to an inactive rail line – was significantly damaged.

Investigators say they are currently working to determine the cause of the fire.