Firefighters stand near the railway tracks near the Narcisse Street NW crossing in Salmon Arm about 11 a.m. Friday, May 7. They appear to be waiting for a CP Rail train to arrive. No further details available. (Lachlan Labere-Salmon Arm Observer)

UPDATE: Smouldering sulphur residue prompts Salmon Arm firefighter call-out

Water and foam mixture used to make sure everything extinguished

  • May. 5, 2021 12:00 a.m.

Updated story:

Fortunately what was initially reported to the Salmon Arm Fire Department as a rail car on fire turned out to be much less serious.

Deputy Fire Chief Gary Lebeter explained that a second report to the fire department described it as an empty rail car containing some smouldering sulphur residue.

The intial call came in about 10:45 a.m. Friday, May 7, when firefighters were dispatched to the Beatty/Narcisse Street rail crossing to wait for the train. As plans evolved, firefighters were dispatched to Canoe, where the train was going to be backed up to the Canoe rail crossing. However, that wasn’t possible, so firefighters were able to deal with the smoking residue from the highway just east of Canoe Forest Products where the train was stopped.

Lebeter said a 150-gallon mixture of water and foam was used to make sure it was extinguished.

11:45 a.m.

Firetrucks have headed out to Canoe to access train tracks there. No further details available.

Original story:

Firefighters were called to the CP Rail tracks about 10:45 Friday morning, May 7 near Narcisse Street NW in Salmon Arm.

No details yet as to why but the firefighters appeared to be waiting for a train to arrive.

More details as they become available.


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Salmon Arm Observer