In the middle of June, the Rose fire burned about 266 acres near Wickenburg near the U.S. 60.
State forestry officials say the cause was due to railroad maintenance operations as investigators say the fire was likely caused by sparks from a welder or angle grinder attempting to cut the track.
According to the Department of Forestry and Fire Management, investigators found a cut piece of railroad track along the BNSF railway.
Investigators say that area was determined to be the originating location due to the way the fire spread uphill away from the tracks.
It destroyed multiple buildings, cars and utility infrastructure and cost nearly a million dollars in fire suppression.
BNSF released a statement Monday saying it will work with local agencies during fire season and reduce the risk of fire near tracks.
Tiffany Davila with Arizona’s Department of Forestry and Fire Management says investigators found a section of cut railroad track along the BNSF rail line, which sparked the fire.
Davila says the agency asked BNSF to pay estimated fire suppression costs of nearly a million dollars.
“I don’t know what the outcome of those conversations were but we have had positive discussions with the railroad in regards to our suppression costs," Davila said.
Davila also says she doesn’t have cost estimates for the private property lost because that would be between those owners and the railroad.
