Fires

I called in the fire which started 2 miles east of I-15 and half a mile north of 138 around 7 pm this evening. As I crested the canyon traveling west, I saw smoke near the tracks and assumed it was just exhaust from the train that was traveling through. After I got closer and the engines had cleared the area it was obvious another brushfire started right at the tracks. I pulled over and called it in, but the CHP dispatcher argued that "there are no tracks east of I-15"

When she connected me to the fire department, it seemed my call was the first they had heard about it. This means the train crew didn't report it. I remember a couple of years ago several fires were started in Cajon Pass by trains throwing sparks. I wonder if the railroads are reimbursing the state for the cost of fighting these fires?

I came back through around 9 and it seemed they had most of it out with hand crews spreading out between the tracks and I-15.

YAY RON:) huggles!!!

Thanks Rowan: I'm a little puzzled by Scott's smoke story above. There were light breezes from the southwest at the time the fire started and as I circled from Phelan to Hesperia over the next 2 hours the smoke plume was drifing Northeast toward Apple Valley. I couldn't see anything but lights and vehicles as I came back through Summit Valley. Perhaps the wind shifted?
Since there is no time stamp on the story, it's hard to tell when it was posted.

thanks ron and if you werent there in the right place who knows where it would be now,,

Thanks Ron! Glad you held your group with dispatcher.