Trestle Fire Knocks Out Communications, Oregon Coast Train Ride Somewhat Affected

Published 10/11/25 at 2:25 p.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Tillamook, Oregon) – A trestle fire in Tillamook caused severe damage to railroad operations and communications on Wednesday, and left many in the area without internet or cellphone access until early on Saturday. (All photos OCSR)

Trevor Park, general manager of Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad (OCSR), sent out a press release Saturday as well as extensive photos. Park said the scenic rides from Garibaldi into Wheeler and back will not be affected, but some aspects of the rail ride behind the scenes will be.

The blaze, which broke out around 3:20 p.m. on October 8, severely damaged a wooden trestle spanning the Hoquarton Slough just north of downtown. No injuries were reported, and firefighting crews were able to contain the blaze by nightfall. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

While passenger excursions will continue uninterrupted, the fire has halted train movements between Garibaldi and the Port of Tillamook Bay, where OCSR maintains its heavy equipment and restoration facilities.

The the initial investigation had to be concluded before communications providers were able to come in and begin the process of restoring service to their customers.

OCSR is coordinating with Alaska Communications and other providers that lease the damaged fiber line, as well as the Port of Tillamook Bay, which owns the rail infrastructure. Environmental contractors, under the direction of the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), are assessing and mitigating any ecological impacts.

Due to the bridge’s federal designation, the incident has drawn the attention of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), with agents and Oregon State Police assisting on-site. Destruction of federally regulated railroad infrastructure is considered a potential act of terrorism, elevating the seriousness of the investigation.

“We ask that the public be respectful of this sensitive area and do not enter the railroad property to get pictures or see the damage,” Park said. “Entering railroad property without proper authority is trespassing, and OCSR has included photos so the public may see the extent of the damage. “

A contracted bridge engineer is expected to assess the structure in the coming days, though initial evaluations suggest the trestle may be a total loss.

OCSR will release further updates as more information becomes available.

Responding agencies included Tillamook Fire District, Bay City Fire Department, Tillamook Police Department, Tillamook County Sheriff’s Office, Oregon State Fire Marshall and the Port of Garibaldi.

“All these organizations helped to mitigate the situation as quickly as possible and allowed an investigation as to the cause of the fire to open in short order,” Park said.

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There are ways you can help. Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad is a 501c3 non-profit organization, and they are accepting donations to our GoFundMe at https://www.gofundme.com/f/ocsrtrestlefire. You can also support us by sending a check to our mailing address, PO Box 669 Tillamook, OR 97141.

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