What lessons did London learn after a train on fire barreled through the city?

A new report going to a city council committee next week details the lessons London learned after a Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) train engulfed in flames rolled through the city in April.

It also outlines what steps should be taken the next time a significant event like this occurs.

City staff admit there were missteps the night of April 21, 2024 when wooden railway ties inside five train cars caught fire. It forced the conductor to make an emergency stop in the centre of the downtown at Richmond and Pall Mall streets. 

The first lesson learned was that the emergency notification system called Alert London was not used to notify residents who lived near the area to shelter in their homes. Instead, firefighters posted the warning to their social media channels. 

Staff also said the mayor and council were not informed until later, though city and emergency staff did get an email. It said, considering the magnitude of what was transpiring, that this was a "significant news event" and elected officials should have been notified.  

WATCH | Trains on fire barrell through London, Ont., in April, 2024:

Fire crews respond to flaming railway cars in London, Ont.

7 months ago

Duration 0:51

Multiple fire crews responded late Sunday night in London, Ont., as freight cars burned on railway tracks in the area of Richmond Street and Pall Mall Street.

That night, Londoners posted multiple videos of the train on fire rolling east through the city. It took fire crews more than an hour to put out the fire, with the train's engineers separating the cars carrying dangerous goods and hazardous materials from those on fire. There were no injuries. 

Weeks later, the Transportation Safety Board (TSB) of Canada later determined that sparks caused by a locomotive's exhaust system likely set off the fire which quickly spread to other train cars because of the airflow caused by the train's movement. 

The city sent two invoices to CPKC totalling almost $22,000 for using fire extinguishing foam and responding to the train fire. Both invoices have been paid in full, the report said. 

New 4-step procedure

Staff are recommending a new four-step procedure for any future 'significant' events. They say that could include another train fire, a event that has multiple deaths or an incident that has a large impact on the community. 

The first step is a conversation between the London fire chief and the city's director of emergency management and security, followed by a written status report. The second step sees the two departments determining whether an Alert London notification is required. 

The third and fourth step involve communication with council, with the city manager and director of emergency services deciding how to tell the greater London community, either through a public service announcement or on social media. 

The Community and Protective Services Committee will receive the report on Monday .