A well-known landmark along the Iron Horse Trail (IHT) was rendered unsafe after an early-morning fire this past Friday scorched the middle and north end of the structure.
Fire crews from Cold Lake and the Bonnyville Regional Fire Authority (BRFA), along with members of the Cold Lake RCMP, responded to calls of flames engulfing nearly half of the Beaver River trestle, which is one of 18 trestles along the IHT.
According to Cold Lake RCMP Const. Dan Kehler, fire crews were still on scene Monday morning monitoring the situation, extinguishing any remaining hot spots and ensuring there are no subsequent flare-ups.
Marianne Price, Administrative Coordinator for IHT, said she was shocked to wake up Friday morning to the news one of the trail's highlights was on fire.
Due to the fire and the damage it has caused, IHT users will be unable to access Cold Lake, or leave Cold Lake, via that corridor, as the entrance to the trestle is barricaded. Price urges users not to attempt to go around the barricades, as the trestle is currently out of service and dangerous.
“It looks like the south side of the trestle was untouched in the fire,” Price said. “Our next step is to assess the extent of the damage and see if the north side can be rebuilt.”
Plans are being arranged to have an engineer inspect the structure once it has been declared completely extinguished.
BFRA chief Brian McEvoy said the north end received the most damage, while the center of the trestle saw some damage and south side was left almost completely unharmed. He estimates the cost to replace the north end of the trestle to be between $750,000 and $950,000.
The bridge, valued at $2.28 million, was not insured.
Price said the cost to insure the 18 trestles along the trail was “astronomical.”
She added, “You hope a situation like this doesn't happen, but you make a decision and you live with it.”
Price said not only was the trestle a part of the trail, it had become a destination itself, pointing out it is right under the flight path of aircraft taking off and landing at 4 Wing Cold Lake.
“I've seen some amazing photos that people have taken of the planes coming over the trestle.”
She explained the history of how the trestles became a part of the trail.
“Over 13 years ago, 10 communities worked together to acquire the abandoned CN rail line and turn it into a multi-use recreation trail. At the time, the organizers wondered what to do with the 18 trestles that were part of the railroad. The decision was made to keep the bridges intact, as the trestles are a significant part of the local history and trail users would enjoy them and find them interesting for years to come.”
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
