St. Thomas councillor blasts CN after massive railroad tie fire [Video]

Coun. Steve Peters didn’t hold back during Tuesday’s St. Thomas city council meeting.

Sitting in the mayor’s chair with Joe Preston away, Peters ripped the Canadian National Railway (CNR) after a massive railroad tie fire on Oct. 10.

“I’m really frustrated with CN and the risk that they’re putting our firefighters,” Peters told council. “The risk that they’re putting the neighbours to in the neighborhood, and quite honestly, the risk that they’re causing to the environment. A special foam has to be used to deal with these creosote fires and that has to go someplace.”

Peters called on fellow councillors to direct staff to “give marching orders to proceed and deal with CN to get this site cleaned up.”

Peters also called on St. Thomas Fire Chief Dave Gregory to explain how his team handled that day.

Firefighters battle a railroad tie fire in St. Thomas, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024 (Source: St. Thomas Fire Department)

“That event …