Train Sets Fires in Sweetwater Burning Vehicles & Buildings

SWEETWATER, TX – At approximately 1:28 p.m. on Thursday, June 29, 2023, the Sweetwater Fire Department received a report of a fire burning near the 2800 block of East Broadway. Sweetwater Fire Department and Sweetwater Police Department responded and located multiple fires burning along the tracks of the Union Pacific Railroad as a westbound train was passing.

As of 4:45 p.m. on Thursday, June 29, 2023, a total of five fires are burning, two of which are mostly contained, two are becoming more controlled; however, the main fire has burned several vehicles and buildings and has threatened several other properties and City equipment.

Both east and westbound traffic is closed on Business IH20 due to smoke and the proximity of the fire.

Multiple agencies remain on scene, Lake Sweetwater Volunteer Fire Department, Nolan Volunteer Fire Department, Trent Volunteer Fire Department, Roby Volunteer Fire Department, Merkel Volunteer Fire Department, Roscoe Volunteer Fire Department, Snyder Fire Department, Abilene Fire Department, and Texas A&M Forest Service. The Mitchell County EMS Director and Fisher County EMS are also on scene.