MPSD responds to multiple railroad fires

UPDATE 10:15: MPSD said all of Monday’s railroad fires were most likely caused from rail grinding maintenance being completed by Norfolk Southern Railroad.

ORIGINAL: Multiple railroad fires broke out Monday in Mexico, Missouri. Mexico Public Safety officials responded to a grass fire on Morris Street Monday morning, but Norfolk Southern Railroad employees had already extinguished the fire when crews got there.

Norfolk Southern was doing maintenance on the tracks with a rail grinder, which was determined to be the cause of the fire.

Later Monday, MPSD responded to three more calls of railroad tie fires. One was at the crossing near Snyder Drive, one was burning west of the Morris Street Crossing and one was burning east of Green Boulevard Monday night. Those fires were extinguished, and there were no reports of injuries or property damage.

ABC 17 news has reached out to MPSD to find out the cause of the final three fires.