While the cause of the fire in Hazen last week is under investigation, evidence points to the likelihood of a natural occurrence combined with extreme temperatures and high winds. Currently, the fire at the Omaha Track Facility in Hazen is out and cleanup is almost complete. The fire, which started shortly after 4 p.m. on September 8, flared quickly. It burned hot and furious for several hours before being contained by the combined efforts of the Omaha Track employees, the Fallon and Churchill Volunteer Fire Department, the North Lyon Fire Department, and the NAS Fallon Fire Department.
Sustained high temperatures and strong winds from a fast-moving storm made it necessary early on to shift from putting out the fire to focusing on containment within the railyard. This was done by creating buffers and moving additional flammable materials away from the path of the fire. Containment was aided by the yard layout and organized state of the facility.
No injuries were recorded, and no property damage occurred other than railroad ties. Omaha Track working alongside the Environmental Protection Agency and other local government authorities evacuated Hazen residents Wednesday night, as a precaution, due to a fuel pipeline in the area. Omaha Track offered and provided some lodging for displaced residents. The evacuation order was lifted the following day.
"Our Hazen facility family is a part of the community, and we share in the anxiety this incident has caused. We are committed to maintaining a safe environment for our employees and neighbors, and to keeping incidents like this from happening again. We appreciate the support and assistance of local authorities, the Fallon & Churchill Volunteer Fire Departments, Union Pacific Railroad, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the dedicated employees at our Hazen facility.” said Omaha Track’s President, Jeff Peterson in a statement released early this week.
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