Cause, origin of June trestle bridge blaze can’t be determined, says Richmond Fire

The cause of a massive fire that engulfed the inactive Marpole rail trestle bridge connecting Richmond and Vancouver in June can’t be determined, according to officials.

Richmond Fire-Rescue Assistant Deputy Chief Grant Wyenberg tells 1130 NewsRadio crews aren’t able to accurately gain access to the structure to determine the source of the blaze.

“The property and the remaining structures were determined through an engineer’s report to be unsafe, which meant that our investigation staff was not able to have sufficient access,” Wyenberg said.

“Without access, we cannot accurately determine a cause and origin for this fire.”

The bridge went up in flames around 9 p.m. on June 20, forcing the temporary closure of the neighbouring Oak Street Bridge.

Dozens of callers reached out to 1130 NewsRadio shortly after the fire ignited, with several people reporting seeing large columns of black smoke. The smoke was visible from as far away as Bowen Island, according to officials.

Crews worked to knock down the blaze all through the night into the morning. At the time, Wyenberg had said “the terrain and the materials involved have made for a very challenging fire to extinguish completely.”

Metro Vancouver issued an air quality statement due to the thick smoke that spread over the region.

Wyenberg says the site and structures have been turned over to its owners. In June, Richmond Fire Chief Jim Wishlove told 1130 NewsRadio the bridge was owned by CP Rail.

— With files from Mike Lloyd and Charlie Carey.