Federal authorities are examining whether Canadian National Railway Co. violated regulations following the evacuation of a crew from a train caught in flames in northwestern Ontario. Transport Canada spokesperson Hicham Ayoun stated that the government is conducting additional oversight to verify if CN adhered to the Railway Safety Act rules. Ayoun emphasized that Transport Canada is prepared to enforce operational constraints or protective actions if required. The department is collaborating with Employment and Social Development Canada to investigate potential health and safety infractions.
A widely circulated video depicted a train near Armstrong, Ont., surrounded by fiery flames with trees ablaze on both sides of the tracks. In the footage, a worker can be heard urgently requesting assistance as the flames closed in. The crew, represented by a trade union of over 10,000 railworkers, had to evacuate on foot to safety and were treated for smoke inhalation. The union urged CN to cease operations in active wildfire areas, denouncing the incident as preventable.
CN mentioned that an investigation is ongoing to ascertain the circumstances of the event and highlighted the safe removal of the crew from the vicinity, which was more than 200 kilometers north of Thunder Bay. The Montreal-based company temporarily suspended rail activities in a sector of northwestern Ontario to ensure the safety of employees, the community, and emergency personnel.
In contrast, Canadian Pacific Kansas City Ltd. stated that its operations in Ontario and Western Canada are unaffected by the wildfires, with trains running normally in those regions. As the northern part of Ontario battles roughly 190 wildfires, Premier Doug Ford disclosed that ten communities have been evacuated, surpassing last year’s total fire season land consumption. Some First Nations leaders criticized the government’s handling and communication during evacuations, particularly citing the challenges faced by Whitesand First Nation and Namaygoosisagagun First Nation, also known as Collins First Nation.
