Chatham Ontario - The cause of a railway tie fire in Chatham on Tuesday remains undetermined.
 
Crews from Chatham-Kent Fire and Emergency Services' stations one and two responded to reports of "significant amounts" of black smoke behind 361 Colborne Street just after 17:00 a news release said.
 
Firefighters arrived to find a large pile of railroad ties on fire and called for more firefighters to assist.
 
There were over 40 firefighters on the scene at the peak of the incident, the release said, with five trucks from stations one and two, and two tanker trucks from Station 16 in Raleigh South, and Station 6 in Dresden.
 
"With substantial winds, there was minimal exposure damage to the back of a warehouse located at 363 Colborne Street. An excavator was also brought in to assist with the moving of railroad ties," the release said.
 
Residents in the area were advised to close their windows and doors to protect themselves from heavy black smoke coming from the release.
 
The fire department said there were no injuries, the cause is unknown, and the estimated cost of damage is unknown.
 
Chatham-Kent Police Service, Chatham-Kent Emergency Medical Services, CP Police, and CP Rail Hazmat, as well as a representative from the Ontario Ministry of Environment were also on scene.
 
Author unknown.

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