Microtrains hometown lost

James Fitch Sep 9, 2020

  1. James Fitch

    James Fitch TrainBoard Member

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    This posted last night on another forum:

    "As of this evening, most of Talent and Phoenix Oregon has been lost to a swift moving wildfire. Countless homes and businesses are lost, Microtrains may be among them. A friend who works there and lives almost next door had to evacuate earlier today. I don't know if his home or the company are standing."
     
  2. BNSF FAN

    BNSF FAN TrainBoard Supporter

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    Praying for all the folks there and hopefully M/T and all it's employees will make it through this okay.
     
  3. MK

    MK TrainBoard Member

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    I just read on TRW that the MTL plant was spared. But one must remember that a plant requires people to run it so hopefully the homes of their employees were spared too.
     
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  4. cthart

    cthart TrainBoard Member

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    What is TRW?
     
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  5. rray

    rray Staff Member

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    +1 What is TRW???
     
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  6. rray

    rray Staff Member

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    I just watched a live stream of a guy driving north up Talent Ave, at Arnos Rd (7:20 into the video)and there is a roadblock, with everything on the west side of Talent Ave is burned, but on the left, the park and police station is still standing. You could not see the MTL factory clearly from the guys camera, but it looks like nothing is burned there. I think that green park and proximity to the police station saved the factory.

    This guys is live streaming the area:
     
  7. SecretWeapon

    SecretWeapon Passed away January 23, 2024 In Memoriam

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    i hope everyone gets out ok.
     
  8. MK

    MK TrainBoard Member

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    The Rail Wire (.net)
     
  9. cthart

    cthart TrainBoard Member

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    I have heard directly from a guy at MicroTrains:

    MTL factory ok. Fire didn't jump Talent Ave. Houses on other side of street did not make it​
     
  10. rray

    rray Staff Member

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    Yeah, you can see at 7 minutes 20 seconds into the video this morning, that everything on the east side of Talent Ave is burned down, some still on fire, but on the west side where the park and police station is, it's still there. You can barely see the green MTL building standing left of the police station when the guys turn their truck around. Road is coned off with fallen power lines across the street.
     
  11. Massey

    Massey TrainBoard Member

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    Thoughts and prayers going out to all those effected by the fires. Glad to hear MTL is OK. There have been quite a few fires here near where I live. They usually come earlier in the year but this is just crazy.
     
  12. BNSF FAN

    BNSF FAN TrainBoard Supporter

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    At about 10:20 to 11:00 into the video, the guy finally drives by MT and it looks okay. You have to worry about the employess though.
    MT.JPG
     
  13. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    :cry::cry::cry: I hate wildfires !

    I live in Show Low, Arizona. We've had a few close calls.
    > Rodeo Chediski Fire <

    Prayers to all in Talent, OR and all who have been through one. :cry::cry::cry:
     
  14. kverdon

    kverdon TrainBoard Member

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    Keep the prayers coming. It's far from over yet. Fires still burning all around and through Talent and Phoenix Area.
     
  15. George Johnsen

    George Johnsen TrainBoard Member

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    I asked Eric if it was OK if I posted his updates since everyone was concerned- This is what he sent to us:


    From Eric this morning:

    Hi all,

    Micro-Trains survived the absolutely crazy wildfire that swept through the Rogue Valley yesterday afternoon, (it’s still a working fire today…) Hundreds of homes lost, commercial properties scorched to nothing, etc. The fire started in Ashland and due to ultra-high winds we had yesterday and again today, pushed the fire north up the Interstate 5 Freeway corridor, mainly burning the west side of the Interstate, our side of the freeway. We have at least four employees who have lost their homes that I’ve heard of via texts and cell calls.


    We lost power, and the gas was turned off as there are a number of leaks in the Talent / Phoenix area. There were three air tankers in action dropping retardant all yesterday afternoon and again beginning at dawn today, along with helicopters with water buckets. I’m working from home, as Talent and Phoenix are cut off if you try to enter into them from our freeway. I am thankful as this could have been much, much worse…


    On the home front we had go-bags packed ready for a quick evac if necessary. We were level two in our area of Medford. My mother-in-law who lives only about one mile from us, was in Level 3 so we packed her things and she spent last night at our place. Her home and area are AOK, as is our place.


    Given the utter destruction of Talent, I’m not sure how long it will take to restore power, necessary so we can resume operations. I’ll keep you all posted.


    Thanks,

    Eric



    From Eric this afternoon:

    Update folks and not good. The fires continue and have now moved into Central Point OR (immediately north of Medford) and also into Eagle Point, OR (which is NE of Medford) level 3 evac now underway. We have a close friend in Central Point, she’s making her way to our home tonight. Our older daughter Rachel has some close friends (a couple) she went to PA school at Duke who live in Eagle Point, they too are coming over to our place tonight. I’m trying to think of something silly to say to lighten the moment, but nothing works…


    Have heard second hand that Eugene OR which is 3hrs north of us in the Willamette Valley has wildfires going and at least earlier today had zero containment.


    Prayers and good thoughts are welcome right now.

    Cheers

    Eric


    As he says, Prayers please-

    George
     
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  16. James Fitch

    James Fitch TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks for the update. My thoughts and prayers are with you all in the affected areas.

    Regards, Jim
     
  17. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    George...thnxs for the updates.

    Like I said earlier...we have been evacuated twice because of wildfires since 2002 here where we live. I know how scary and uncertain things can get. If you talk to Eric again tell him my wife and I have been praying all day for everyone caught in these wildfires...especially our friends at MT and their families, employees and friends. Anyone from TB in the path of any of this hell on earth...wherever you live on this planet....you are all in our prayers and will continue to be until this is all over.
     
  18. Tim Holmes

    Tim Holmes TrainBoard Member

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    Prayers to all affected by the fires -- Glad MT is ok so far

    Tim
    San Luis and Rio Grande
     
  19. BNSF FAN

    BNSF FAN TrainBoard Supporter

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    Thank you very much for the updates George! My prayers go out to all the employees at M/t for their losses and that the ones who can will be able to return to work without much loss.
     
  20. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Wow.... :eek::eek::eek::(
     

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