Though the cause isn’t known yet, there is a history in that area of fires spreading from the campfires of illegal camping by the homeless, which the city and county have been relatively unwilling to do much about over the years.
Rail blaze possibly arson
Debris is sifted for clues to cause of trestle inferno
By Tony Bizjak, Ryan Lillis and Phillip Reese - Bee Staff Writers
Published 12:00 am PDT Saturday, March 17, 2007
Teams of experts from federal firearms investigators to state toxics analysts sifted through the smoldering ruins of a train trestle Friday seeking clues to the causes and consequences of the massive blaze on the American River Parkway.
The cause of the spectacular Thursday evening inferno on the Union Pacific mainline remained undetermined but may have been arson, investigators said.
The track closure forced passenger and freight train officials to scramble to reroute dozens of trains Friday, causing slowdowns throughout the region.
No incendiary device had been found. However, Sacramento Fire Department officials said they suspect the fire could have been purposely set.
