A rail crew's harrowing journey through an active wildfire zone has sparked urgent safety concerns after workers had to be evacuated from their train as flames engulfed the tracks on both sides.
The Teamsters union, which represents the railworkers involved, is calling on Canadian National Railway to immediately halt operations through wildfire zones. The incident occurred near Armstrong in northwestern Ontario, where out-of-control wildfires have been sending smoke as far south as Toronto.
Dramatic video footage circulating on social media captured the severity of the situation, showing orange-red flames closing in on the train as trees burned intensely along both sides of the railway tracks. The crew members had to be treated for smoke inhalation, according to Marc-André Gauthier, the union's director of communications.
Canadian National Railway confirmed Wednesday that the train crew was safely evacuated and announced it has temporarily suspended rail operations in the Armstrong area. The company has been contacted for additional comment.
The union is demanding answers about how the situation was allowed to develop. Gauthier accused CN of knowingly sending railworkers into dangerous conditions and putting their lives at risk. He questioned the company's monitoring systems and decision-making process that led to the crew being dispatched through an active fire zone.
The northwestern Ontario wildfires have been burning out of control, creating hazardous conditions across the region and affecting air quality hundreds of miles away. The incident raises critical questions about workplace safety protocols during extreme weather events and natural disasters.
