No doubt that trains do start fires. A good question for debate is should they have to pay fire fighting costs. Do the railroads pay taxes the same as everyone else on their property? If my water heater shorts out and catches my house on fire and it spreads and burns 1,000 acres and 20 other homes am I liable for the firefighting costs? If high winds cause a power line arc that starts a fire does the power company pay the firefighting costs? Did Mrs. O'Leary pay fire fighting costs in Chicago?

Undoubtably the railroad should pay for property owners losses if they can prove the railroad started the fire. I think the railroad should be treated the same as any other tax paying property owner when it comes to an accidental fire. If individual home ower's pay the fire dept to put out house fires then the railroad should pay for their fires also.