Viewfinder: Parker’s railroad bridge up in flames

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.

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.

Night:

Morning:

264 comments

  1. Jim Delight Jackie Cheek-Delight

  2. Prayers everyone is ok. Thank you to the first responders

  3. Prayers everyone is ok. Thank you to the first responders

  4. Holy shit!! Randy Sossaman are you up?

  5. This is horrible, how is this possible??

  6. This is horrible, how is this possible??

  7. I’m curious how it caught fire .

  8. I’m curious how it caught fire .

  9. now its the aizona rr,cant get to calif side

  10. now its the aizona rr,cant get to calif side

  11. Rich Blacksten Jim Mulay Donna Johnson John Skulick Deanne Stewart Mulay DeAnn Williams-Eccles David Collin

  12. Scott Kinman Daniel Folts Nicole Westman Bowles

  13. Terrible! Stay safe everyone.

  14. Terrible! Stay safe everyone.

  15. have to cross at parker dam! damn…

  16. have to cross at parker dam! damn…

  17. Was wondering how it started as well Makes no sense

  18. Can people get out of blue water lagoon

  19. Lauren Preece Leah Censoplano

  20. B Miller B Miller there’s no railroad tracks at the dam.

  21. B Miller B Miller there’s no railroad tracks at the dam.

  22. Sherrie Doyle your right i think needles is the closest if not down below blythe

  23. Sherrie Doyle your right i think needles is the closest if not down below blythe

  24. 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.

  25. 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.

  26. Jamie Pevehouse-Folts oh wow ????

  27. Jamie Pevehouse-Folts oh wow ????

  28. Desert dry! Like the Arroyo! Remember AZ side of river @ Big River that 4th of July? I’m crying Johnny Monts

  29. Desert dry! Like the Arroyo! Remember AZ side of river @ Big River that 4th of July? I’m crying Johnny Monts

  30. Robert Monts Brandy Monts Cyndee Geary Monts

  31. 800) 427-7623 ROAD CONDITIONS! Have route #.

  32. 800) 427-7623 CA ROAD CONDITIONS! Have route #.
    511 from AZ

  33. AZ road conditions 511

  34. The bridge that goes across by calif Avenue.. ? To California?

  35. The bridge that goes across by calif Avenue.. ? To California?

  36. Brandy O’Neal-Johnson Kevin ONeal

  37. Heart wrenching ????Brian Thomas Catie

  38. Heart wrenching ????Brian Thomas Catie

  39. Agnes Wilson bridge should be available??

  40. Agnes Wilson bridge should be available??

  41. Bill Holderby will take a long time to repair!

  42. Bill Holderby will take a long time to repair!

  43. Melissa Reid, did you see this?

  44. Melissa Reid, did you see this?

  45. Prayers for all the first responders

  46. Prayers for all the first responders

  47. So very sad. 🙁 Prayers for all involved. Jenaya….

  48. So very sad. 🙁 Prayers for all involved. Jenaya….

  49. 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.

  50. 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…..

  51. Tammie Cardella had no idea ????

  52. Tammie Cardella had no idea ????

  53. Vic Moore Nikki Nikki Hernandez Ware Michael Bungenstock

  54. Sending prayers to those who may be affected by this sad event.

  55. Joanne Colleen Bill
    Ed
    I don’t think this affected the auto bridge?

  56. Joanne Colleen Bill
    Ed
    I don’t think this affected the auto bridge?

  57. No way that thing just started on fire. There’s someone starting these fires over there.

  58. No way that thing just started on fire. There’s someone starting these fires over there.

  59. Prayers are with everyone in

  60. B Miller B Miller it’s the rail road bridge!!!

  61. B Miller B Miller it’s the rail road bridge!!!

  62. Gary Russell correct auto bridge is still open

  63. Gary Russell correct auto bridge is still open

  64. Shylane Hernandez Jj Hernandez Elsa Leal Garcia May Beth Garcia ????

  65. Wow how does something like that happen?

  66. Wow how does something like that happen?

  67. Brian Goddard ya it’s very odd…I worked at the VFW that burned down on Memorial Day

  68. Brian Goddard ya it’s very odd…I worked at the VFW that burned down on Memorial Day

  69. Michelle Leigh Senseney just awful

  70. 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!!

  71. Very sad.. how the heck did that happen

  72. Very sad.. how the heck did that happen

  73. Bill Deal I agree big time ‼️

  74. Bill Deal I agree big time ‼️

  75. I guess that means to trains through town for a while…

  76. Prayers for all involved from the firefighters, reporters and residents.

  77. Prayers for all involved from the firefighters, reporters and residents.

  78. Parker Live any idea how it was started?

  79. Parker Live any idea how it was started?

  80. Also a couple houses in bluewater lagoon have gone up in flames in between all the buildings

  81. Also a couple houses in bluewater lagoon have gone up in flames in between all the buildings

  82. Yes in the middle where they can’t get water to it

  83. Yes in the middle where they can’t get water to it

  84. 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.

  85. 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.

  86. Jenna Loiacano wow that’s sad ????

  87. Jenna Loiacano wow that’s sad ????

  88. Bill Deal I belive one of the 100 home caught fire re recently too?

  89. Bill Deal I belive one of the 100 home caught fire re recently too?

  90. 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..

  91. 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..

  92. 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.????‍♀️

  93. 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

  94. This is so sad, that bridge holds so many memories from the young to passed elders. Hopefully it will be restored to original condition.

  95. This is so sad, that bridge holds so many memories from the young to passed elders. Hopefully it will be restored to original condition.

  96. Nope, railroading grandson said it will be repaired today!

  97. Nope, railroading grandson said it will be repaired today!

  98. Audrey Macias Zambroski there’s a picture of it just smoldering

  99. Audrey Macias Zambroski there’s a picture of it just smoldering

  100. Need a BIG smoke alarm on bridge!

  101. Need a BIG smoke alarm on bridge!

  102. Parker Live Audrey Macias Zambroski new pics

  103. 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

  104. Gary Russell Indians trying to stop the rail road again

  105. Maybe it was a homeless campfire gone bad

  106. Maybe it was a homeless campfire gone bad

  107. Marjorie Pryor-Barber

    It seems with the river right below, why couldn’t helicopters drop buckets of water on the fire? Just curious!

  108. Bill Deal agreed. Definitely suspicious. Isn’t it made out of fire resistant railroad ties soaked in cresole?

  109. Bill Deal agreed. Definitely suspicious. Isn’t it made out of fire resistant railroad ties soaked in cresole?

  110. Jason Carter isn’t that crazy! I saw it this morning on a Parker news post! Gee, I wonder how it started ????

  111. Jason Carter isn’t that crazy! I saw it this morning on a Parker news post! Gee, I wonder how it started ????

  112. Joanne Keniston yeah it’s crazy, it was still going this morning

  113. Joanne Keniston yeah it’s crazy, it was still going this morning

  114. Jason Carter probably all the cresol.

  115. Jason Carter probably all the cresol.

  116. What a bummer has to be Dave Manshium

  117. What a bummer has to be Dave Manshium

  118. I watched it since abt 11:30 when it started! It was quiet a site! It must remain!!

  119. I watched it since abt 11:30 when it started! It was quiet a site! It must remain!!

  120. This males two fires on two bridges. Located right next to each other???

  121. All peeple think spunktaneeus combtsion

  122. Cristy… wow! Thanks for tagging me in.

  123. Cristy… wow! Thanks for tagging me in.

  124. My son drove across around 10pm and seen a homeless man carrying two plastic grocery bags…

  125. My son drove across around 10pm and seen a homeless man carrying two plastic grocery bags…

  126. Julie Harris i didn’t know! How is the bridge ? Is it okay?

  127. Julie Harris i didn’t know! How is the bridge ? Is it okay?

  128. 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.

  129. 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.

  130. Oh Know…. What or who caused the fire

  131. Oh Know…. What or who caused the fire

  132. Railroad management has predicted 2 weeks to open back up.

  133. Hmmm I heard early in the am, train whistle. So is it, opened back up, or was just coming from behind the Chamber?

  134. 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.

  135. 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.

  136. Bill deal I’m with you on that. Had they. ?ND anyone around the bridge at the time it had started do we know?

  137. Jimmy Posada, Tommy Posada

  138. Jimmy Posada, Tommy Posada

  139. Tony Posada mom was saying something about that yesterday. That sucks

  140. Tony Posada mom was saying something about that yesterday. That sucks

  141. Yeah, we’ve driven by there hundreds of times. It meant we were either getting to the river or sadly heading home.

  142. Yeah, we’ve driven by there hundreds of times. It meant we were either getting to the river or sadly heading home.

  143. 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

  144. Apparently there were no trains going through on Saturday evening/night.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *