Portland Doesn’t Have Enough Foam to Fight Oil Train Fires

May 1, 2014

The Portland fire chief says her department lacks the equipment to fight a catastrophic fire that could erupt from an oil train derailment.

Portland Fire Chief Erin Janssens says the Oregon city would have to rely on foam from Portland International Airport, where it is stored for possible airplane fires.

The Oregonian reports Janssens was one of the officials attending a state meeting Tuesday at the Linnton rail yard in Portland to address risks caused by an increase in crude oil shipments by rail.