Fire personnel battle train fire

GROTON TWP. — A train fire forced officials to close Ohio 4 between Ohio 113 West and Smith Rd in Groton Township late Saturday afternoon. The road closure was announced about 5 p.m. Saturday. The road was reopened shortly after 6 p.m.Witnesses said up to 10 cars seemed to be affected by the train fire at the Norfolk Southern train yard. Flames shot high into the air and set power lines on fire. Several area fire departments were dispatched to the scene of what was reported to fires affecting tanker cars carrying ethanol. Fire departments went to Strecker and Ohio 99 to fill up their water tanks. Several dozen people pulled over to watch the fight against the fire. Five Norfolk Southern rail lines converge at the location, one of the biggest rail yards in the region. Black smoke fills the air over the Norfolk Southern rail yard in Bellevue after several train cars caught fire on Saturday, May 5, 2018. Sheriff Deputy Jesse Leon redirects traffic at Ohio 4 and Smith Road because of a train fire at the Norfolk Southern Bellevue train yard on Saturday, May 5, 2018. Ohio 4, between Smith Road and Ohio 113, was closed for around an hour as a tanker car sent flames shooting into the air.Fire departments direct water on to smoking train cars as an ethanol fire rages a few cars down at the Norfolk Southern rail yard near Bellevue Saturday evening. Black smoke fills the air over the Norfolk Southern rail yard in Bellevue after several train cars caught fire on Saturday, May 5, 2018. Fire shoots over power lines, catching them on fire, at the Norfolk Southern Bellevue rail yard on Saturday, May 5, 2018.Bystanders watch as a fire rages from a train car at the Norfolk Southern rail yard near Bellevue Saturday evening.