PHOTO: Spark blamed for Union Pacific locomotive fire near Arkansas border

TEXARKANA, Texas — Railroad officials blame a mechanical problem for a towering fire on a locomotive traveling near southwest Arkansas.

The Texarkana Gazette reports nobody was hurt in Thursday's accident aboard a Union Pacific Railroad train.

UP spokesman Jeff DeGraff says the fire was started by a spark and affected the second of three engines pulling freight and tank cars. No hazardous materials spilled.

The train was bound for a nearby rail yard operated by Nebraska-based UP when the crew in the lead locomotive spotted the flames from the exhaust stacks. The crew stopped the train and alerted the Texarkana Fire Department.

Firefighters put water into the locomotive's air intakes to help extinguish the blaze.

DeGraff says two locomotives and several cars will remain at the yard for cleaning and repairs.

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