Massive Ogden Fire Sends Thick Smoke Over I-15 Railyard
Ogden railyard blaze triggers UTA delays and bus bridge between Ogden Central and Roy stations.
A wall of black smoke rolled over Ogden Tuesday afternoon, the kind you can see from miles down the interstate and instantly know something’s gone wrong. The fire sparked in the railyard off I-15, in a section stacked high with plastic construction piping, and within minutes, it had the look of a serious industrial blaze.
Smoke Over The Wasatch Front
People driving northbound on I-15 hit the brakes when the plume rose. Some pulled over to film it. Others just stared as the smoke drifted across the highway, turning the sky above Ogden’s industrial corridor into a dark curtain. From Clearfield to Riverdale, folks could see it plain as day, and social media lit up with photos of the towering column.
The Ogden Fire Department was quick to confirm the source a stockpile of piping inside the railyard. That material burns hot and dirty, and once it catches, the smoke hangs heavy. Crews say they don’t yet know how it started.
Rail Riders Pushed To Buses
The fire didn’t just hit the sky it hit commuters, too. The Utah Transit Authority had to shut down FrontRunner service between Ogden Central and Roy, sending riders onto buses in what UTA calls a “bus bridge.” It’s a clunky fix, and it’s adding at least 10 to 20 minutes for people heading north or south on a weekday afternoon.
One rider, standing at the Ogden platform and watching smoke drift above the tracks, summed it up “Figures. First day I’m back in the office and this happens.”
Crews Flood The Yard
By midday, fire trucks from Ogden City, Weber Fire District, and even Union Pacific’s own responders had flooded into the site. Their goal keep the flames boxed in, away from rail cars and other cargo stacked nearby. Firefighters were still spraying down the piles hours after the first call came in.
So far, officials say nobody’s been hurt. But they’ve warned people in neighborhoods downwind especially south Ogden and Riverdale to keep windows shut. No formal shelter order is in place, but the smell alone is enough to send folks inside.
Traffic And Local Ripples
Drivers on I-15 near 31st Street crawled through the mess. Visibility dipped, sirens cut across lanes, and traffic slowed to a grind. For anyone trying to make it through Ogden around lunch, it was a nightmare stretch.
Local businesses in the industrial strip near the yard also sent some workers home. “It’s not worth it, breathing that all afternoon,” one warehouse manager told FOX 13 on site.
A City Watching The Sky
By early afternoon, the plume was still rising, and questions hung in the air What set it off? How long before it’s knocked down? And how much of that smoke is ending up in people’s lungs?
Ogden’s no stranger to industrial fires this stretch of the Wasatch Front has a mix of rail, manufacturing, and warehouses packed tight along I-15. But when something burns this big, it reminds the city how close the railyard sits to homes, commuters, and schools.
For now, the message from officials is simple steer clear, be patient, and stay indoors if you can. The fire may be boxed in, but the smoke isn’t going anywhere soon.
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Trained in war zones, raised in Newark, and seasoned in city hall, Jordan blends grit reporting with deep integrity. From floods to finance bills, they’re always first on scene and last to leave.
