Canadian National Railway (CN) has paid US$1.25 million (about CA$1.74 million) to settle damage caused by a wildfire in 2016.
The wildfire, known as the Skibo Fire, burned about 1,000 acres (slightly above four square kilometres) of land in northeastern Minnesota. The US federal government alleged that the May 2016 fire was caused by a railroad locomotive that experienced mechanical failure.
The US government said that the fire cost over US$1.5 million to suppress. The incident also forced the evacuation of several homes in the remote community of Skibo.
Under the settlement, CN and its subsidiary Wisconsin Central have paid US$1.25 million. The amount was paid to the US Forest Service, the Star Tribune reported.
Citing a statement from the US Attorney’s office, The Associated Press reported that the case was settled prior to the government filing a suit; there has been no determination of liability.
Last year, CN Railway was pressed about the amount of crude oil that spilled from a separate derailment incident in western Manitoba. At the time of the spill, a spokesperson for the freight railway company said that the amount of oil that leaked from the derailed train was “still being assessed.”
