The Region : Railroad Fires 6 Who Spotted Blaze

Six Southern Pacific railroad employees who discovered a fire that destroyed a railway tunnel near San Luis Obispo have been fired because they violated a railroad rule requiring them to stop and try to put it out, a railroad spokesman said. The May 1 fire closed the Cuesta Grade tunnel for almost two weeks, cutting off California’s main coastal rail route. Jerry Pera, a spokesman for Southern Pacific Transportation Co., confirmed the firings. The train’s engineer, Art Laidlaw, said the crew reported the blaze as soon as they saw it, but said it would have been impossible to stop the train on the steep grade to fight the fire. “Southern Pacific has a lot of gall to do this,” said Laidlaw, 55, a 34-year veteran, adding that he will appeal his dismissal. Laidlaw said he radioed the nearest depot in San Luis Obispo to report the fire.