Firefighters battle railroad tanker blaze

A spokesman with the El Paso Fire Department said emergency crews were called out around 11 p.m. Friday after a person called saying heavy smoke and flames were coming from a business in the lower valley.

Crews responded to the 9300 block of Billy the Kid Street near Loop 375.

The spokesman said when crews arrived they found the fire coming from a railroad tanker next to a business. Firefighters began to put out the fire and look for employees that may be inside of the business, but crews say there was no one inside. The blaze was brought under control shortly after midnight.

The spokesman said crews began to search for a vegetable oil leak coming from the railroad tanker. Crews were able to stop the leak around 1 a.m. Saturday.

The fire was contained to one railroad tanker and according to the spokesman the business was not exposed to the damage. The vegetable oil was kept from entering storm water drains.

Damage to the railroad tanker is estimated at $30,000 and there are no reports of injuries.

The El Paso Fire Department is still investigating the cause of the fire.