Eagle County, conservation groups fight Uinta Basin rail plan

Jessica Washkowiak was in bed Tuesday night when her husband ran in telling her to call 911 because “the train is on fire.”

A train car carrying railroad ties was ablaze, right next to the crops in their Field to Fork organic farm in Palisade.

The couple scooped up their 11-year-old and fled. Firefighters eventually doused the train-car fire, but it took a couple of hours. 

“It was the biggest fire I’ve ever seen, right in front of where we live and work,” said Washkowiak, describing tanker cars on the train near the flaming rail car. “I was definitely thinking about an explosion and East Palestine (Ohio). I mean, if there was a spill here, it could wipe us out. It would completely ruin agriculture in Palisade.”

Earlier Tuesday, a mudslide…