There is no proof that the Silverton and Durango RR started a fire and it should be assumed that precautions were taken to insure that it couldn't happen. . All we have here is speculation.
Before the Milwaukee Road had abandoned its Chicago to Seattle route, there were sections that ran through state and federal woodlands through the Bitteroot Mountains in Idaho. There was never a fire as the railroad electrified the line and later ran diesels.
