At 12:56 PM today, Westport Firefighters responded to a reported explosion and smoke in the area of Elaine Rd. and Compo Rd. South. Arriving units found an Eversource power line (that ran along the Metro North right of way near the tracks) down and arcing. The energized line had caused the brush and some railroad ties along the side of the track to catch on fire. Firefighters called for train traffic on Track 3 to be stopped and called for a slowdown on Tracks 1, 2 and 4 for the duration of the incident. Metro North and Eversource personnel responded to the incident to assist Westport Police and Fire units on the scene. The power line was de-energized before firefighters could apply water to the fire and extinguish it.

Westport Police shut down Compo Rd. South during the time of the incident.  Tracks 1, 2 and 4 were reopened shortly thereafter but Track 3 remained closed. The last Westport Fire Department unit left the scene at 1:35 PM.

Westport Fire Officials would like to remind everyone that we are in a “High Fire Danger Alert” which means that conditions are very favorable for brush fires. Please be careful with discarding smoking materials and anything capable of producing a spark or open flame, especially when near brush or other materials that could easily ignite.

(Westport Fire Press Release)

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