The grinding of the rails by maintenance crews on the Union Pacific tracks from Kinmundy to the Jefferson County line apparently led to a number of spot fires inside some of the rail ties.
Railroad officials say holes in the aging ties that will soon be replaced apparently gathered some of the grindings inside causing smoldering fires to begin. Fire officials say there was no threat of the fires spreading.
Salem Fire Protection District Firemen put out six spot fires through the district. Kinmundy-Alma Firemen had calls to the north and the Kell Fire Department handled calls from the Salem Fire District line near the Route 161 Extension and the Walnut Hill Road at the very southern edge of Marion County.
