A rail crew in northwestern Ontario had a narrow escape after their locomotive became trapped inside a raging wildfire, with terrifying footage showing flames closing in on them.
Engineers trapped inside burning train
The incident occurred near Armstrong, Ontario, as forest fires burned through the remote landscape. Footage captured inside the cabin shows a wall of orange flames surrounding the train as the fire ripped through the tracks and woodland.
One engineer is heard saying: “This could potentially overtake us here. This has gotten a little scary.” He then pans the camera inside the cabin, which is bathed in surreal orange light from the blaze. “Holy s***,” he adds while another man films the outside. “Okay y’all need to hurry up here, we’re encased in flames,” he says before apparently radioing colleagues.
Cause of the incident
According to reports, the crew had detached from the locomotive to rescue a foreman. Poor visibility due to thick smoke caused the detached unit to crash into its train, sparking further fires. The men eventually escaped on foot, and no one was injured.
Wildfires across northwestern Ontario
Northwestern Ontario has been hit by at least 128 separate fires, forcing residents to leave their homes. Armstrong is under an evacuation order, along with Lac La Croix First Nation, Collins First Nation, Whitesand First Nation, and Lac des Mille Lacs First Nation areas. Major roads, including Highway 11, were briefly closed as a precaution.
Swathes of northern Ontario are under a severe heat warning, exacerbated by humidity making the temperature feel like 40°C.
Global heatwave impacts
In Europe, a gruelling July heatwave lingers over western and southern parts of the continent. The dry spell has worsened conditions in Spain, where one of the country’s worst wildfires has killed at least 13 people, including British nationals trapped inside cars trying to escape. The UK has been enduring high temperatures for weeks, with drought conditions risked, especially in the south.
