Investigators: Railroad ties soaked with flammable material
Crews responded to fire near County B Friday night
LA CROSSE, Wis. (WKBT) — Firefighters spent the better part of their evening extinguishing about a dozen railroad ties Friday.
La Crosse and Onalaska Fire Departments responded to a fire nearly Highway County B, battling the blaze for more than five hours.
La Crosse firefighters say the ties were all soaked with the flammable material creosote, and there was no easy access for their trucks – equipment couldn’t get closer than 600 feet. News 8 viewer Josh Narvestad sent us video of the fire.
The investigation into the cause of the fire is still ongoing and has been taken over by Canadian Pacific Rail Police, who have jurisdiction – but firefighters say they found a backpack with a flare in it next to the scene of the fire.
Todd Limestahl is accused of setting the fire. He appeared in La Crosse County court on Monday.
