TOBIAS HANDKE / www.BossHunting.com
A 6th Judicial District court judge has rescheduled the trial where a local lawsuit is seeking damages against Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad for their contribution to the 416 fire. The Judge delayed the trial until August 29th for homeowners, businesses, and D&SNG. The government is seeking $25 million in damages for firefighting and rehabilitation costs cause by the fire that mainly burned in the San Juan National Forest.
In July 2019, the Forest Service concluded that a cinder from the smokestack of one of D&SNG’s coal-burning locomotives ignited the roughly 54,000-acre fire north of Durango. The Civil lawsuit that was filed in 2018 accused the railroad of negligence that lead to the damage of the properties. When the trial begins in August, a jury will have to decide if D&SNG, American Heritage Railways Inc., and Harper should pay for those affected by the 416 Fire.