U.S. District Judge Robert Blackburn set the court dates for the trial to decipher responsibility of the Durango and Silverton Railroad for the 416 Fire of 2018 in Colorado.  The fire, allegedly caused by steam locomotive ashes and cinders, burned close to 57,000 acres of southwestern Colorado land in June of 2018, holding the title of one of the largest wildfires the state has ever seen.  The Government is seeking $25 million in reimbursement citing firefighting costs through this trial. ¨The government is suing to recover the funds in part because of a Colorado statute which says railroad companies within the state are liable for all damages caused by rail operations¨ according to Trains Magazine Newswire.

Local officials stated that the fire had a major impact on the local community, forcing 1,300 residents and businesses to evacuate.  This fire had a major impact on tourism, even shutting the railroad down for a month.  No one was injured in the fire and no structures damaged, however flooding as a result of the fires and heavy rainfall damaged some property near the affected area.  

The Durango & Silverton has since taken measures to reduce the likelihood of another fire starting as a result of them in the future, including converting their historic steam locomotives to burn oil instead of coal reducing the risk of errant embers and cinders making contact with the dry ground.