Passenger Trains > Fires disrupt Keystones...likely caused by sparks from train

Brush fires along Amtrak rail likely caused by sparks from train
Daily Local News, West Chester PA
by Lucas Rodgers
05/02/15

> Firefighters responded to a brush fire along railroad tracks of the
> Amtrak-owned Keystone Corridor, behind residences in the 3000 block
> of West Sadsbury Township around 9:34 a.m. Friday morning. Multiple
> small fires were reported that morning, including two in Valley
> Township and three in the western end of Chester County as far as the
> border with Lancaster County, said Brian Gathercole, fire chief of
> the Keystone Valley Fire Department. Sadsburyville, Christiana,
> Cochranville, Honey Brook, Gap, Union and Wagontown fire companies
> also responded to the fires along the railroad tracks. Amtrak rail
> services were temporarily shut down for the safety of fire crews.
>
> It’s suspected that the fires were started by sparks thrown from a
> passing train’s wheels grinding on the rails. Tim Burns, a resident
> of Upper Valley Road whose property borders the railroad tracks,
> called 9-1-1 around 9:28 a.m. to alert authorities about the fire. He
> reported seeing flames in the brush on the edge of the railroad
> tracks about 15 minutes after a freight train carrying concrete and
> railroad ties traveled through the area...Burns is a retired railroad track
> maintenance foreman; he was employed by Amtrak for 36 years.
>
> All of the fires were reported to be under control around 10:17 a.m.,
> and Amtrak resumed the Keystone Service at 11 a.m. However, the
> Keystone Valley Fire Department was sent out again at 1:19 p.m. to
> respond to additional brush fires in the 3700 and 3900 blocks of
> Upper Valley Road...Amtrak had to suspend rail services again shortly after 2
> p.m., but service was resumed around 3:30 p.m.

Full story with photo:

Brush fires along Amtrak rail likely caused by sparks from train

Perhaps, in some very dry areas with lots of underbrush, Amtrak (and NS/CSX?) need to send out speeders / high railrers to follow trains.

NJ Transit did that following a dozen or so small fires in the Allendale, Ridgewood, Waldwick a few years ago.  Exceptionally dry weather provided lots of fuel.

Was the fire caused by a couple "making sparks" on the way to Pittsburgh?