A federal lawsuit claims Union Pacific triggered the Rowena fire that destroyed 56 homes and damaged 91 properties near The Dalles, Oregon. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

A federal lawsuit claims Union Pacific triggered the Rowena fire that destroyed 56 homes and damaged 91 properties near The Dalles, Oregon
Photo: ODOT

The plaintiffs, Ramon Garza Nino and Maria Carrera, say the fire started on June 11 at 1:30 p.m. when a train released overheated particles that ignited dry brush. The incident occurred near milepost 76.05 on the Portland subdivision, around three miles from The Dalles.

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They assert the train, which carried refrigerated boxcars, sparked the blaze that consumed 3,600 acres. The Oregon Department of Forestry confirmed the fire was human-caused, but the exact origin is still under review.

Union Pacific responded that no official cause has been identified. The company says it is working closely with state investigators and found no evidence linking its train to the wildfire.

Fire Allegedly Caused by Train Sparks Legal Action

Law firm Singleton Schreiber filed the complaint in U.S. District Court in Portland and will hold a public town hall on June 26 at The Dalles Civic Auditorium. Residents can ask legal questions and get support during the session.

The firm seeks compensation for those who lost homes, paid for evacuations, or endured emotional and physical distress. Attorney Gerald Singleton said this case reflects preventable damage tied to corporate negligence.

He emphasized that families lost their homes and peace of mind because of what he called avoidable failures in safety practices by Union Pacific.

Oregon Fire Compared to 2023 Washington Blaze

Singleton Schreiber compared the Rowena wildfire to the 2023 Tunnel 5 blaze in Washington, which investigators linked to locomotive exhaust from BNSF Railway.

The lawsuit claims Union Pacific failed to inspect and maintain equipment, neglected vegetation control along tracks, and lacked proper fire prevention measures.

No specific damage amount has been requested yet, but the law firm confirmed that the total would be determined during trial proceedings.

Source: www.statesmanjournal.com

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