Huge fire erupts at Port Coquitlam rail yard causing evacuations and highway closures

A huge fire erupted this evening just after 6:30 pm when a tanker truck carrying ethanol gas hit a rail car at the Canadian Pacific Railway yard in Port Coquitlam.

Police have evacuated the area around the incident, spanning roughly one kilometre in radius.

The City of Port Coquitlam and CP Rail have confirmed that there were no toxic materials being carried, and no injuries have been reported.

Lougheed Highway is currently closed in both directions from Shaughnessy Street to the Oxford Connector until further notice.

Reminder Lougheed Hwy continues to be closed BOTH WAYS between Shaughnessy Street and the Oxford Connector. #PortCoquitlam https://t.co/l7VXivZhso

— City of PoCo (@CityofPoCo) January 23, 2018

Officials say the fire is under control and crews remain on scene and are monitoring the situation. Anyone evacuated outside of the 800 metre radius can return home, but they are reminding all residents to stay indoors and avoid the area.

Two explosions. Things are really crazy right now. #PortCoquitlam #crazy #emergency pic.twitter.com/bTcpSuIdA8

— Vex Nutso (@crayZ121314) January 23, 2018

@NEWS1130 @GlobalBC @CTVVancouver @CTV_Television Port Coquitlam train track fire pic.twitter.com/vXogC5Swy2

— belleamanda (@belleamanda) January 23, 2018

#portcoquitlam fire at cp train yard pic.twitter.com/vB1ZLeApNu

— ⭕️ (@JamesPutnam) January 23, 2018

More footage I took from the #PortCoquitlam rail yard fire pic.twitter.com/GipHEXFYsy

— Sean Meade (@seanlocations) January 23, 2018

Explosion at the Train Yard in #PortCoquitlam pic.twitter.com/9cGHdWGI3y

— Scott Elliott (@sc0ttelliott) January 23, 2018

#portcoquitlam fire at train yard! pic.twitter.com/LuI4JOdQcJ

— ⭕️ (@JamesPutnam) January 23, 2018

Loud bang, followed by mushroom cloud of fire as we were leaving the restaurant in Port Coquitlam. Train crashed into Porpane Truck @NEWS1130 @GlobalBC @CTVVancouver pic.twitter.com/wWVl9wbDFt

— belleamanda (@belleamanda) January 23, 2018

#PortCoquitlam Getting crazy pic.twitter.com/esIha5WmRC

— Mooks (@TommyRoyal_BC) January 23, 2018

View from #PortCoquitlam Rec Ctr, east to #WestCoastExpress station #CPRailfire pic.twitter.com/IO77O9J3qS

— Brite Shiny Lites (@briteshinylites) January 23, 2018

Foam truck from @City_Abbotsford being escorted by two @AbbyPoliceDept units to the tanker fire in #PortCoquitlam @MayorHenryBraun @iaff2864 #Abbotsford @IAFF1941 @bcpffa pic.twitter.com/mIYuqSqEcG

— Vancity Stringer (@stucktweet) January 23, 2018

Fire is finally dying down and under control thanks to our brave first responders. #PortCoquitlam #firefighters #RCMP #fire pic.twitter.com/pL0HNHuQMK

— Vex Nutso (@crayZ121314) January 23, 2018

More footage I took from the #PortCoquitlam rail yard fire pic.twitter.com/GipHEXFYsy

— Sean Meade (@seanlocations) January 23, 2018