The lead engine of an eastbound freight train caught fire Sunday afternoon near Columbia Falls but the fire was contained without injury or widespread damage.

“It was a significant fire, but the engine itself was not fully involved,” Columbia Falls Fire Chief Rick Hagen said. “Strictly the engine compartment.”

The fire started at about 2 p.m. Sunday as the BNSF Railway train rolled past Columbia Falls Aluminum Co. near Bad Rock Canyon. Hagen said the train crew evacuated without injury and dialed 911.

Matt Jones, a spokesman for BNSF, said the engine was pulling empty crude oil cars eastward. No hazardous-materials team was requested to the scene.

Jones called it a minor fire that was “limited to the engine compartment and resulted from a mechanical failure to the locomotive.” He said BNSF would follow up with inspections of the engine on Monday.

The other engines and cars were not damaged.

“Once the fire was out, we were able to operate on the main line,” Jones said.

The damaged engine was taken to Havre for repairs while the rest of the cars continued down the line.

Reporter Matt Hudson may be reached at 758-4459 or by email at mhudson@dailyinterlake.com.