Sampling Soot, Ash, and Debris From 2/1/26 Railroad Tie Fire

The 2/18 Zoom call with Blue Shirt Justice League (BSJL) was very informative. BSJL recommends storing samples in mason jars and has shipped jars to Jim Petersen on Camp Drive for distribution. If you’d like free jars for your samples, email JimPetersen2010@gmail.com with your name, address, phone number, and the number of jars you need and Jim will arrange delivery of the jars to you.

How to Collect and Store Soot, Ash, Debris

Wearing nitrile gloves, collect or swab soot, ash, debris, such as charred soil, wood pieces or vegetation, place in mason jars, seal the lids tightly, and store in the refrigerator (if you’re comfortable putting the jars in your fridge). Be careful not to stir up the material or spread it around and wear a mask. Look at exterior walls and fencing for soot accumulations.

Save your HVAC filters in non-scented, plastic yard trash bags sealed tightly. Even car filters can be stored this way and may be useful for testing. One neighbor said her frost blankets were covered in soot and bagged them all.

Photograph as you collect, before and after collecting each sample. Label all specimens with date, time, and location of collection. Keep a list of all your samples and their specific information.

Details about picking up everyone's samples haven't yet been worked out, stay tuned.

Document Your Health Symptoms

If you have experienced new health symptoms since the fire, be sure to see your doctor and have them documented. Also, keep your own journal of how you’re feeling, the specific symptom(s), the date, time, location, and activity, and the weather conditions at the time. For example, “Burning eyes and throat after 10” working in the yard, date, time, sunny, 75, wind from SW at 7mph” or “Splitting headache after walking to the mailbox, date, time, overcast, 68, wind from NW at 12 mph”.

Don’t forget to note any new symptoms your pets may be having, and get them to the vet for documentation as well. For outdoor pets, wash their feet with soap and water before letting them lick their feet or come in to the house.

BSJL Sampling at the Fire Site and on the Rainbow River

BSJL has reviewed CSX’s publicly released test results and methodology and believes their testing is an incomplete analysis of the hazards and threats resulting from the railroad tie fire. BSJL collected their own samples from the fire site, some nearby residential properties, and on the Rainbow River at KP Hole (as the upstream control) and near Swampy’s (downstream from any runoff from the fire site) on 2/1 and sent it all for testing.

Their testing approach is to identify what compounds are present, as opposed to looking only for a few specific compounds. They expect the results in another 2-3 weeks. When they have the results, they will organize a community meeting to share the results publicly. Everyone will be welcome to attend. Until we have these independent test results, we can’t determine next steps for the community.

Attorneys and Lawsuits

BSJL’s attorney from the Keenan Law Firm in Georgia, had this to say: It’s too early to know right now how to pursue a lawsuit. We need to know the level of the chemicals, and the effect of those chemicals on your health. We don’t know how long your current symptoms will last, and if you don’t have symptoms now, when symptoms may show up. We need to give it some time. Some people will get sick, others won’t. The only reason other attorneys may encourage you to file a suit quickly is for their benefit, not yours.

With care and concern,

Karrin Gordon

Mockingbird Drive