SIMI VALLEY : Lumber Mill Fire Delays Amtrak
A lumber mill in Simi Valley just south of some railroad tracks caught on fire Sunday night, causing authorities to delay a passenger train.
No injuries were reported and the fire was confined to the mill, said Rhonda Roller, dispatcher for the Ventura County Fire Department.
When firefighters arrived at The Stake Mill at 2240 1st St. the mill was engulfed in flames, Roller said. The blaze, which was reported at 8:38, was under control at 9:08 p.m.
Because the mill is near the railroad tracks on the west end of Simi Valley, authorities asked train officials to slow down trains going through that area, Roller said.
“At first they opted to stop all trains, then they later called to ask if a passenger train could go through,” Roller said. “We told them it would be fine as long as they slowed it down, because we have a lot of smoke going across the tracks and a lot of people working over near there.”
An Amtrak train was delayed and rescheduled to go through the area about 10:10 p.m., Roller said. Amtrak officials could not be reached for comment.
The fire also knocked down some power lines, and authorities had to block off 1st Street from Agnew Street to Los Angeles Avenue, Roller said.
The cause of the fire is under investigation and authorities had no estimate of damage or structure loss.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
