Improvements Made After Train Blocks Louisiana Firefighters

The city of Gretna has come up with a new plan to improve fire protection after a train blocked firefighters' efforts to get to a blaze that damaged five homes Monday. Officials said the owner of the tracks-- New Orleans and Gulf Coast Railway -- will inform the fire department when a long train heads into the city. It's a short-term plan, leaders said. "I was personally no more than 100 feet from the fire and seeing flames and seeing the smoke and being blocked by a train. That was frustrating," Fire Chief Bobby Black said. A long-term plan includes a fire station for the other side of the tracks so that when another blaze breaks out, no one is left waiting on a train.

Previous Stories:

• November 13, 2006: 5 Homes Damaged After Train Delays Firefighters