Fire Destroys Railroad Bridge in West Lincoln

- The bridge, owned by Union Pacific, is located over Salt Creek near Pinnacle Bank Arena and was also used by BNSF Railway. - Fire crews were first dispatched at 3:45 a.m. on Monday, and the bridge, engulfed in flames, collapsed less than two hours later at approximately 5:30 a.m. - Firefighters encountered challenges accessing the blaze, requiring a specialized brush rig to approach from the west side as engine companies were limited to the east. - While the official cause is still under investigation, officials have noted the presence of a known homeless encampment in the vicinity and are looking into the possibility that campfires started for warmth during the cold weather may have been a contributing factor. - A section of the Salt Creek Levee Trail that passes under the bridge has been closed to the public following the fire and collapse. - Union Pacific's hazmat crews were deployed to the scene, and workers installed a barrier in Salt Creek to contain potential chemical runoff and debris from the destroyed structure. - The line was used periodically, and a train was reportedly scheduled to use the route the day after the fire. - The structure was an old, historic bridge, and Union Pacific now has an engineering team on site to survey the total loss and assess the situation.