Massive Gas-Line Fire Erupts Near Stopped Train West of Cheyenne; No Injuries, Probe Underway

A pre-dawn fireball lit up the plains west of Cheyenne early Sunday after a ruptured natural gas pipeline ignited near a stopped Union Pacific train carrying hazardous materials, officials said. The glow was so intense callers reported seeing flames from up to 60 miles away — including across the state line in Colorado.

What happened — and where

• Time: About 1:08 a.m. Sunday.
• Location: Near I-80 mile marker 350 in western Laramie County.
• Agencies: Laramie County Fire District 10 (LCFD 10) first on scene, joined by Laramie County Fire Authority, Cheyenne Fire Rescue (CFR), Laramie County Fire District 1, Laramie County Emergency Management, and Union Pacific teams.

Initial 911 calls described explosions and a possible locomotive fire, but crews quickly confirmed the blaze was fueled by a ruptured natural gas line that ignited close to rail cars. No cars derailed, and it’s still unclear if any part of the train itself burned, officials said.

Because the train’s manifest listed hazardous materials, CFR deployed its Wyoming Regional Response Team #7 hazmat unit in mutual aid. Crews used air monitoring gear and drone flights to size up the scene and chart a safe plan.

• Nearby railcars included denatured fuel ethanol (a flammable liquid). Standard guidance calls for a 150-foot isolation if released and ½-mile if involved in fire.
• Ammonium nitrate also appeared on the manifest, but was not involved near the fire, and monitoring showed no dangerous releases, CFR said.
• Drone footage suggested the railcar structures remained intact. It’s unknown whether any product vented through pressure-relief valves and burned off.

“This was a significant and dangerous event, and we are grateful for the quick actions of our first responders and partner agencies,” said Division Chief Caeden Quist, the incident commander. “Their teamwork ensured the safety of the community and prevented further escalation.”

The blaze was brought under control and extinguished, with only isolated smoldering and cleanup remaining by daylight. The site sits in a rural area with no nearby homes, so no evacuation was needed.

“At no time was there a threat to public safety, and if there was, the appropriate actions and communications would have occurred through several agencies,” Cheyenne Fire Rescue Chief Andrew Dykshorn said in an email.

He noted responders were prepared to use reverse 911 if conditions changed.

Officials reported no injuries and no large hazardous material releases that would have endangered the public. Roads remain open.

The cause of the pipeline rupture and subsequent fire is under investigation by Union Pacific and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Additional updates will come from Union Pacific and/or the Laramie County Fire Authority as needed.

Dykshorn emphasized the value of interagency coordination and cautioned that early rumors can outpace facts:

“It often takes time for us to understand the situation thoroughly and ensure a safe approach while coordinating messaging.”

No derailment, no injuries, no evacuations — and no current threat to the public. Investigators are now focused on how the gas line failed and why the blaze erupted so close to hazardous rail cargo. This is a developing story.

With input from ABC News, Cowboy State Daily, Wyoming Tribune Eagle, and Wyoming News Now.