Train fire closes highway in Maricopa Saturday morning
A fire incident on Friday night disrupted traffic along a section of the Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway, as confirmed by the Maricopa Police Department.
At approximately 8 p.m., both the Maricopa police and Maricopa Fire and Medical teams swiftly responded to reports of a fire originating from a train en route to Casa Grande, as outlined by city spokesperson Monica Williams.
“The fire was contained within a single train car carrying two containers,” mentioned Williams. “Fortunately, there were no reported injuries, and a thorough investigation is underway to determine the cause.”
To facilitate the safe clearance of debris resulting from the incident on the Pacific Union Railroad Tracks, a section of the Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway, spanning between White and Parker roads to Murphy roads, has been temporarily closed.
Maricopa police authorities have estimated that this closure will persist for several hours as crews diligently work on the clearance process.
For commuters traveling from the east or heading in an easterly direction, an alternate route has been recommended. Drivers are advised to navigate via Farrell Road to White and Parker, then proceed using Honeycutt Road, eventually reconnecting with Murphy Road to resume their journey along the Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway. Additionally, motorists on White and Parker Road seeking to travel westward will be redirected onto Farrell Road as an alternative route.
The Maricopa Police Department has urged motorists to follow the directed detours and exercise caution in the affected areas, considering the ongoing cleanup operations and closure. Further updates regarding the reopening of the Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway will be provided as the situation progresses.
The freeway was reopened at 11AM.
