Publisher’s note:This story originally appeared in the Tuesday, April 2, 2013 edition of the Lassen County Times.
Flames engulfed the historic Western Pacific Railroad depot in Greenville on Saturday afternoon.
According to the Plumas County Sheriff’s Office, arson is suspected as the cause of the fire that destroyed the building.
The fire was first reported at 4:57 p.m. March 20. Indian Valley fire responded and Burlington Northern was advised to halt rail traffic while responders battled the fire. The scene was taped off Saturday night so that an investigation could be conducted.
The historic depot was scheduled for demolition before it was saved and moved from its original location by the tracks near Greenville Wolf Creek Road in 1991. It was moved with the hopes that it would eventually be restored. However, the plans and funding never materialized.
The building was reportedly the last of the original depots remaining from the Western Pacific line.
Four firefighters, two helicopter pilots and a contractor bulldozing a fireline have died in Colorado, Utah and Oregon this year. Fast-moving fires have burned…
