A section of the 85-year-old Portland and Western Railroad trestle in Sherwood is still standing after a fast-spreading fire Monday afternoon.
Tualatin Valley firefighters were called out at 4:21 p.m. and found flames engulfing a large section of the 600-foot bridge that sits 50 feet over wetlands and a stream.
Due to rapid fire spread, command decided to let the trestle burn and focused on their efforts on fighting a brush fire. Access proved difficult and overhead power lines posed additional threats.
Within 30 minutes, structural support members of the trestle began collapsing, so firefighters retreated.
A second alarm was called at 5:24 p.m. and four-wheel-drive brush vehicles were requested.
Firefighters coninued to hose down the wetlands and stop the fire from spreading to nearby homes and businesses.
More than 7,000 residences were notified by phone call, text message, or e-mail to keep windows and doors closed.
By Tuesday morning, two partial collapses left only one-third of the trestle standing. The fire continues to smolder.
