Chris Hooper, right, of White Salmon watches the fire caused by a derailed oil train in Mosier, Oregon, near Hood River in the Columbia River Gorge on Friday, June 3, 2016.
John Sepulvado / OPB
A helicopter flies through the smoke emitted by the oil train fire in Mosier on Friday, June 3, 2016.
John Sepulvado / OPB
An oil train fire rages on near the bank of the Columbia River on Friday, June 3, 2016.
John Sepulvado / OPB
A helicopter flies above the smoke emitted by the oil train fire in Mosier on Friday, June 3, 2016.
John Sepulvado / OPB
An oil train fire rages on near the bank of the Columbia River on Friday, June 3, 2016.
John Sepulvado / OPB
An oil train fire rages on near the bank of the Columbia River on Friday, June 3, 2016.
John Sepulvado / OPB
Smoke from an oil train fire is seen beyond the Hood River Bridge in the Columbia River Gorge on Friday, June 3, 2016.
John Sepulvado / OPB
An oil train fire rages on near the bank of the Columbia River on Friday, June 3, 2016.
Courtesy of Patrick Mulvihill/Hood River News
Smoke and fire at the derailment in Mosier, Oregon.
Courtesy of Patrick Mulvihill/Hood River News
Traffic backed up on I-84 in Hood River due to oil train derailment in Mosier.
Courtesy of Ben Mitchell/Hood River News
Traffic backed up on I-84 in Hood River, Oregon after a train derailment near Mosier.
Courtesy of Ben Mitchell/Hood River News
A train carrying crude oil derailed near the city of Mosier, sparking a fire on Friday, June 3, 2016.
Courtesy of Heidi Smart
A plume of smoke rises from where a train carrying crude oil derailed in Mosier, near Hood River, on Friday afternoon.
Courtesy of Columbia Riverkeeper
ODOT reported the train fire shut down Interstate 84 westbound in The Dalles at mile post 87 and eastbound in Mosier at mile post 64.
Courtesy of Columbia Riverkeeper
Train derailment fire as seen from Coyote Wall area on Washington state Route 14.
Courtesy of Derek Greenwood
Smoke rises from an oil train that derailed near Hood River Friday.
Courtesy of Columbia Riverkeeper
A view of the fire from state Route 14 on the Washington side of the Columbia River.
Courtesy of Zachary Carver
Smoke rises from the train derailment near Mosier, Oregon, as seen from Washington state Route 14 between Bingen and Lyle.
Courtesy of Michelle Nijhuis
Smoke from a trail derailment fire as seen from Washington state Route 14.
Conrad Wilson / OPB
Smoke rises from an oil train that derailed in Mosier, near Hood River, Friday.
Courtesy of Derek Greenwood
Smoke from a trail derailment fire as seen from Washington state Route 14.
Conrad Wilson / OPB
Smoke from a trail derailment fire as seen from Washington state Route 14.
Conrad Wilson / OPB
Saturday is the one-year anniversary of the catastrophic oil train derailment in the Columbia River Gorge town of Mosier, Oregon.
While the fire might be out, the crash still hangs over the town.
After the crash, the city, the fire department and the school district created an intergovernmental agreement to negotiate with Union Pacific, the rail company responsible for the derailment.
Mosier Mayor Arlene Burns says the agreement is almost final.
“We’re really almost about to tie it up," she said.
"We feel that Union Pacific has been responsive to sort of an off-piste style because it’s not a litigation. We’re just trying to tell them our story and who we are and what we would like them to do to make it right. And so far, they’ve been receptive," said Burns.
Burns says the town hopes for some money, a patch of land and equipment upgrades for the fire department.
She's also negotiating access across the track so the Columbia Gorge Historic Highway between Mosier and Hood River can be linked together.
Looming over all negotiations is a proposal by Tesoro Savage to build a terminal in Vancouver, Washington, that would bring up to five loaded oil trains through Mosier each day.
Washington’s Gov. Jay Inslee is poised to make a final decision on the proposal soon.
We’ve gone to incredible places together this year. Support OPB’s essential coverage and exploration in 2025 and beyond. Join as a monthly Sustainer now or with a special year-end contribution.
