Dramatic video from northern Ontario shows a freight train engulfed on all sides by a fast-moving Canadian wildfire, leaving crew members stranded inside the locomotive as flames closed in.
The blaze, burning Tuesday near Armstrong, Ontario, cast an intense orange glow over the train as fire tore through the area, according to footage shared by provincial lawmaker Sol Mamakwa.
‘This could potentially overtake us here. This is getting a little scary,’ one railway worker told the operator while filming the harrowing scene outside the cab.
‘Holy sh**,’ he said moments later, as another crew member inside the locomotive pulled out his phone to capture the worsening conditions.
‘Ok, y’all need to hurry up here. Like seriously, we’re encased in flames,’ the worker warned as the fire appeared to surround the train.
A second man aboard the locomotive then pleaded for a faster response, saying: ‘This has got to move f***ing quicker.’
Within moments, the wildfire swept along the edge of the tracks and ignited nearby trees, sending smoke and flames across the crew’s line of sight until visibility was nearly wiped out.
As the inferno continued to burn, another train could be seen passing through the area, underscoring the dangerous conditions unfolding on the rail line.
A massive wildfire surrounded a freight train in Ontario, Canada, on Tuesday as crew members panicked inside
Train employees pulled out their phones to document the claustrophobic and apocalyptic scene
The trains were hauling combustible materials, and had to suspend operations after the wildfire took over, the Canadian National Railway, which operates the freight train, said, according to Superior North News.
A company spokesperson told the local outlet that employees were evacuated from the trains overnight.
Police also advised the public to steer clear of the area and refrain from entering the railway corridor as the fire continued burning.
‘While there is no immediate threat to public safety, emergency responders and railway officials are working together to assess conditions and support ongoing safety measures,’ the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) stated.
As of Wednesday morning, multiple wildfires continue to burn across northwestern Ontario.
Several of the infernos remain out of control due to dry conditions, extreme heat, and intense winds. It is unclear if anyone has been injured.
The flames have gone on to affect air quality in parts of Canada and the northwestern US.
Heavy smoke is expected to reach parts of New York City, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Vermont by Wednesday evening, Fox Weather reported.
The trains were hauling combustible materials, and had to suspend operations after the wildfire took over, the Canadian National Railway, which operates the freight train, said
A company spokesperson told the local outlet that employees were evacuated from the trains overnight. It is unclear if anyone has been injured
Heavy smoke is expected to reach parts of New York City (pictured on Tuesday), Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Vermont by Wednesday evening
The intense fires come just days after scary, days-long wildfires hit North Carolina.
Brunswick County, which is located directly near the North and South Carolina state line, was consumed by vicious flames on Friday, leading to road closures and the destruction of two commercial structures, according to Star News Online.
On Monday, the North Carolina Forest Service revealed that the inferno started from a lightning strike.
The fire was 50 percent contained as of Sunday afternoon. It remains at that level as the area has not gotten any rainfall since Saturday.
A firefighter was left with a minor injury and was treated at the scene on Friday.
