Railroad ties catch fire in downtown

A pile of railroad ties caught fire Friday afternoon near downtown Fresno, sending plumes of thick black smoke into the air.

Fresno Fire Department Captain Tim Fulmer said the fire started shortly after 5 p.m. along the railroad tracks near San Benito and O streets. The small fire ignited a nearby patch of dry grass that was quickly knocked down by firefighters.

Fulmer said the creosote-soaked railroad ties produced thick smoke that could be seen throughout the downtown area. The cause of the fire is being investigated.

This story was originally published September 11, 2015 at 6:12 PM with the headline "Railroad ties catch fire in downtown."