UPDATE: Added morning photos at bottom. The bridge is still burning, but fire fighting efforts appear to have stopped as the reachable sections have been put out. The bridge will be unusable until repaired.
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ORIGINAL STORY:
A fire broke out on substantial sections of the railroad bridge in Parker, AZ on Saturday night. Many agencies were still responding at midnight as this article was being published.
Long sections of the bridge were aflame, with fire raining into the river and onto dry brush on the riverside, where small brush fires were breaking out. Fire fighters were rushing to refill tenders and cycle back to the bridge, but the damage seemed likely to be substantial.
Photos by Parker Live. One early photo below by Kristina G. on Facebook.
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Night:
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Morning:
Jim Delight Jackie Cheek-Delight
Steve Liebsack
Prayers everyone is ok. Thank you to the first responders
Prayers everyone is ok. Thank you to the first responders
Holy shit!! Randy Sossaman are you up?
This is horrible, how is this possible??
This is horrible, how is this possible??
How was this started??
How was this started??
I’m curious how it caught fire .
I’m curious how it caught fire .
now its the aizona rr,cant get to calif side
now its the aizona rr,cant get to calif side
Rich Blacksten Jim Mulay Donna Johnson John Skulick Deanne Stewart Mulay DeAnn Williams-Eccles David Collin
Scott Kinman Daniel Folts Nicole Westman Bowles
Dave Bowles Anne Bowles
Judi hey! You ok over there
Judi hey! You ok over there
Wow
Wow
Dynise Gonzales!
Jim Johnson
Cyrena Davis
Terrible! Stay safe everyone.
Terrible! Stay safe everyone.
Sunshine
Sunshine
Jerry Barbanell
have to cross at parker dam! damn…
have to cross at parker dam! damn…
Was wondering how it started as well Makes no sense
Nicole Weimer
So very sad to hear this
So very sad to hear this
Can people get out of blue water lagoon
Travis Dillon
Justin Morris
????
????
Lauren Preece Leah Censoplano
B Miller B Miller there’s no railroad tracks at the dam.
B Miller B Miller there’s no railroad tracks at the dam.
Sherrie Doyle your right i think needles is the closest if not down below blythe
Sherrie Doyle your right i think needles is the closest if not down below blythe
Leslie MacMillan
That’s terrible!!
That’s terrible!!
B Miller B Miller there are no connecting tracks or Spurs.
No way for Az railroad to get from point A to point B ..without that bridge crossing.
B Miller B Miller there are no connecting tracks or Spurs.
No way for Az railroad to get from point A to point B ..without that bridge crossing.
Jamie Pevehouse-Folts oh wow ????
Jamie Pevehouse-Folts oh wow ????
Glenn Lyons
Julia Crawford
Josh
Danna
Vickie Fortie Mark Fortie
Matt Goodwin ????????????
Pamala Engle Donna Engle
Now 2019? Unbelievable!
Now 2019? Unbelievable!
Desert dry! Like the Arroyo! Remember AZ side of river @ Big River that 4th of July? I’m crying Johnny Monts
Desert dry! Like the Arroyo! Remember AZ side of river @ Big River that 4th of July? I’m crying Johnny Monts
Robert Monts Brandy Monts Cyndee Geary Monts
RR
RR
John T Monts
Parkerliveonline.com
Is it out yet
Is it out yet
Mike Morgan ☹️
800) 427-7623 ROAD CONDITIONS! Have route #.
800) 427-7623 CA ROAD CONDITIONS! Have route #.
511 from AZ
Is it still burning?
Is it still burning?
AZ road conditions 511
The bridge that goes across by calif Avenue.. ? To California?
The bridge that goes across by calif Avenue.. ? To California?
Brandy O’Neal-Johnson Kevin ONeal
Heart wrenching ????Brian Thomas Catie
Heart wrenching ????Brian Thomas Catie
Carolyn Calzia
Cody Hoover
So sad…
So sad…
Agnes Wilson bridge should be available??
Agnes Wilson bridge should be available??
Bill Holderby will take a long time to repair!
Bill Holderby will take a long time to repair!
Marjan Reynolds Hay RR
Dana StocktonLisa Stewart
Melissa Reid, did you see this?
Melissa Reid, did you see this?
Prayers for all the first responders
Prayers for all the first responders
How sad.
How sad.
So very sad. 🙁 Prayers for all involved. Jenaya….
So very sad. 🙁 Prayers for all involved. Jenaya….
I think there’s a fire bug in Parker. The VFW then the Eagles now the railroad bridge really how does a railroad bridge just go poof I’m on fire? bologna! Somebody’s starting fires and for the braids to Catching Fire like it did all the way down the tracks… I smell accelerant.
I think there’s a fire bug in Parker. The VFW then the Eagles now the railroad bridge really how does a railroad bridge just go poof I’m on fire? bologna! Somebody’s starting fires and for the bridge to Catch Fire like it did all the way down the tracks… I smell accelerant from here 190 miles away…..
Georgia ????
Georgia ????
Tammie Cardella had no idea ????
Tammie Cardella had no idea ????
Vic Moore Nikki Nikki Hernandez Ware Michael Bungenstock
Jolie Johnson
Sending prayers to those who may be affected by this sad event.
Joanne Colleen Bill
Ed
I don’t think this affected the auto bridge?
Joanne Colleen Bill
Ed
I don’t think this affected the auto bridge?
????
????
Omg!!!!
Omg!!!!
Brooke Monts!!!!
No way that thing just started on fire. There’s someone starting these fires over there.
No way that thing just started on fire. There’s someone starting these fires over there.
Prayers are with everyone in
Jamie Lynn Joe Barros
Sarah Thomas
Zac Swenson
Carol Geary good question!
Carol Geary good question!
Sheri Lee Shatrau Dix no
Sheri Lee Shatrau Dix no
B Miller B Miller it’s the rail road bridge!!!
B Miller B Miller it’s the rail road bridge!!!
Gary Russell correct auto bridge is still open
Gary Russell correct auto bridge is still open
Horrible!????????
Horrible!????????
Joanne
Randy Sossaman
thanks
Randy Sossaman
thanks
On no….
On no….
Shylane Hernandez Jj Hernandez Elsa Leal Garcia May Beth Garcia ????
Bryan Myers
Wow how does something like that happen?
Wow how does something like that happen?
Dylan Dixon
Porsche Santoro ????
Wendy Latka-Ryan
Jason Randizle
Brian Goddard ya it’s very odd…I worked at the VFW that burned down on Memorial Day
Brian Goddard ya it’s very odd…I worked at the VFW that burned down on Memorial Day
Marjan Reynolds Hay yes
Terry Berrier
just awful
Michelle Leigh Senseney just awful
Fires don’t just “Break Out”! I strongly believe it was arson. If that proves to be the cause, then it becomes a Federal Offense. I believe that the FBI and ATF, along with RR officials should be on scene NOW! Reminds me of another suspicious fire on the auto bridge along side this bridge, 6 years ago!!
Very sad.. how the heck did that happen
Very sad.. how the heck did that happen
Bill Deal I agree big time ‼️
Bill Deal I agree big time ‼️
So sad
So sad
Unbelievable….
Unbelievable….
Any update this morning?
Any update this morning?
I guess that means to trains through town for a while…
Lightning?
Lightning?
whoa!
Kimberly Thorpe whoa!
Prayers for all involved from the firefighters, reporters and residents.
Prayers for all involved from the firefighters, reporters and residents.
Bridge still on fire this morning. More photos and a short update here: https://parkerliveonline.com/2019/09/15/viewfinder-parkers-railroad-bridge-up-in-flames/
Parker Live any idea how it was started?
Parker Live any idea how it was started?
Kyle Pines
Also a couple houses in bluewater lagoon have gone up in flames in between all the buildings
Also a couple houses in bluewater lagoon have gone up in flames in between all the buildings
Yes in the middle where they can’t get water to it
Yes in the middle where they can’t get water to it
Julie Ortiz ????????
Bill Deal I agree. But no agency will probably report any suspicion on who or why. If they are connected, it’s a hate crime.
Bill Deal I agree. But no agency will probably report any suspicion on who or why. If they are connected, it’s a hate crime.
Jenna Loiacano wow that’s sad ????
Jenna Loiacano wow that’s sad ????
Bill Deal I belive one of the 100 home caught fire re recently too?
Bill Deal I belive one of the 100 home caught fire re recently too?
Yea it is
Yea it is
Jamie Siroonian
How did it start ?
How did it start ?
This another fire in Parker sounding very suspicious-Parker residents, you guys should start making serious inquiries about this! I have a best friend who’s family IS LaPiazza..
This another fire in Parker sounding very suspicious-Parker residents, you guys should start making serious inquiries about this! I have a best friend who’s family IS LaPiazza..
Arnie Compton omg!
Arnie Compton omg!
Hopefully no one takes offense to this BUT we were over at that rope bridge over in Havasu yesterday and 4 Persian men walked down from the road and we’re looking at the bridge. I asked them if they were going to jump from the rope swing and they said no because they couldn’t swim. Just thought it was weird that they weren’t in swimsuits or anything. Who knows maybe they just enjoying the view of the water.????♀️
Alex Villasenor
Adam Zahn
Wow how do we get there now we usually go thru desert center and cross the bridge to blue water but how scary for parker could of been lighting if there was a storm then hope all is ok. First responders your the best we pray for safety always
This is so sad, that bridge holds so many memories from the young to passed elders. Hopefully it will be restored to original condition.
This is so sad, that bridge holds so many memories from the young to passed elders. Hopefully it will be restored to original condition.
Nope, railroading grandson said it will be repaired today!
Nope, railroading grandson said it will be repaired today!
Audrey Macias Zambroski there’s a picture of it just smoldering
Audrey Macias Zambroski there’s a picture of it just smoldering
Need a BIG smoke alarm on bridge!
Need a BIG smoke alarm on bridge!
Parker Live Audrey Macias Zambroski new pics
I agre I agree this is like the 4th or 5th fire along the railroad tracks in the last six or seven months there’s obviously a problem
Bill Deal wow
Bill Deal wow
Gary Russell Indians trying to stop the rail road again
Maybe it was a homeless campfire gone bad
Maybe it was a homeless campfire gone bad
Wow..
Wow..
Kaydence Jones
It seems with the river right below, why couldn’t helicopters drop buckets of water on the fire? Just curious!
Bill Deal agreed. Definitely suspicious. Isn’t it made out of fire resistant railroad ties soaked in cresole?
Bill Deal agreed. Definitely suspicious. Isn’t it made out of fire resistant railroad ties soaked in cresole?
Ray Darrow
Jason Carter isn’t that crazy! I saw it this morning on a Parker news post! Gee, I wonder how it started ????
Jason Carter isn’t that crazy! I saw it this morning on a Parker news post! Gee, I wonder how it started ????
Joanne Keniston yeah it’s crazy, it was still going this morning
Joanne Keniston yeah it’s crazy, it was still going this morning
Jason Carter probably all the cresol.
Jason Carter probably all the cresol.
What a bummer has to be Dave Manshium
What a bummer has to be Dave Manshium
most likely
most likely
I watched it since abt 11:30 when it started! It was quiet a site! It must remain!!
I watched it since abt 11:30 when it started! It was quiet a site! It must remain!!
Clark Hicks
This males two fires on two bridges. Located right next to each other???
Rick Rogers
All peeple think spunktaneeus combtsion
Cristy… wow! Thanks for tagging me in.
Cristy… wow! Thanks for tagging me in.
How awful
How awful
Kaylee
My son drove across around 10pm and seen a homeless man carrying two plastic grocery bags…
My son drove across around 10pm and seen a homeless man carrying two plastic grocery bags…
Julie Harris i didn’t know! How is the bridge ? Is it okay?
Julie Harris i didn’t know! How is the bridge ? Is it okay?
Joe Deltiempo
Carol Geary can’t possibly be repaired already. The Parker Pioneer said the steel structure needs to be inspected. The fire may have impacted the integrity of the steel.
Carol Geary can’t possibly be repaired already. The Parker Pioneer said the steel structure needs to be inspected. The fire may have impacted the integrity of the steel.
Oh Know…. What or who caused the fire
Oh Know…. What or who caused the fire
Railroad management has predicted 2 weeks to open back up.
Michelle Courtney omg
Michelle Courtney omg
????
????
Hmmm I heard early in the am, train whistle. So is it, opened back up, or was just coming from behind the Chamber?
We were at Blue water Friday through Sunday, California Ave is open, no way that started by itself
The rumor was there was a homeless camp below the tressel. No lightning this weekend. Burned for 2 days if it’s out now, was still burning when we left at 3pm.
It isn’t the bridge cars drive on from AZ to CA like some people are thinking. It’s the railroad bridge. Seems like there are a lot of people confused as to that.
Bill deal I’m with you on that. Had they. ?ND anyone around the bridge at the time it had started do we know?
Jimmy Posada, Tommy Posada
Jimmy Posada, Tommy Posada
Tony Posada mom was saying something about that yesterday. That sucks
Tony Posada mom was saying something about that yesterday. That sucks
Yeah, we’ve driven by there hundreds of times. It meant we were either getting to the river or sadly heading home.
Yeah, we’ve driven by there hundreds of times. It meant we were either getting to the river or sadly heading home.
Did anyone ever think of a hot bearing on one of the wheeles on the train this would account for the length of the fire.when a bearing comes apart it is red hot an breaks into smaller prices that are red hot
Apparently there were no trains going through on Saturday evening/night.