Full deployment of fire trucks used to battle Burlington grass fires

Passing trains and high winds led to a grass fire that quickly spread along a Burlington rail corridor yesterday (April 11).

According to initial reports from the Burlington Fire Department, the fire broke out around 4 p.m. north of the train tracks on North Service Rd. and spread along Brant St. and Guelph Line.

Nearly every fire truck in the city was called out at some point to help get the fire under control and fire departments from Hamilton, Oakville and Milton were called in to battle the blaze.

An initial evaluation of the scene has led firefighters to believe sparks from a passing train or trains ignited the dry grass at several locations along the tracks.

It took crews until 5 a.m. this morning to get all of the hotspots under control.

Grass fires along rail lines are a regular occurrence and are expected to keep local firefighters busy during lengthy periods of dry weather.

No injuries were reported as a result of the fires and damage was limited to the parched land.