The damage will be not only from the fire but the effects of the construction needed to rebuild, and the visual dissonance from concrete and steel where old wood once stood.
Track fire repair begins
With huge trestle blaze mostly out and air quality normal, UP mops up site.
By Phillip Reese - Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:00 am PDT Sunday, March 18, 2007
As Sacramento's massive trestle fire simmered down to a few piles of smoldering debris and air quality readings came back normal, Union Pacific officials Saturday began in earnest the task of replacing 1,400 feet of elevated railroad track in the heart of the American River Parkway.
Firefighters were at the scene of the blaze Saturday but they mostly just dampened hot spots. The thick dome of smoke that had fixed itself in the Sacramento sky largely disappeared Saturday, reduced to several thin wisps.
"We fully expect it to be done today," Sacramento Fire Department Capt. Jim Doucette said Saturday afternoon, referring to the remnants of the fire.
That's good news for those worried about breathing in harmful particles. Except for those very close to the fire, everything should be back to normal, said Larry Greene, director of the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District.
"The fire is essentially out," Greene said Saturday afternoon. "As far as the smoke impact, it's essentially gone."
Authorities are still trying to determine how the fire started, Doucette said Saturday. He's not expecting to be able to release anything new until later this week.
