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Providing U.S. trademark services throughout the U.S. and across the globe.
  • Lower Cost
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File a Trademark for $399 + $250 Government Filing Fee

Trademark Attorney Working With Clients in London, Ontario

If you're an entrepreneur, you know that protecting your intellectual property should be high on your list when it comes to safeguarding your company. However, as a successful business owner, you also know the steps and costs of filing a trademark in the U.S. can be expensive and arduous.

This conundrum can be even more overwhelming for new business owners who want to do everything possible to minimize the price of securing trademarks. They try to handle complicated tasks like trademark registration on their own, which can be a big mistake - especially when juggling the day-to-day tasks of running a business. You may be thinking, "But what about those set-it-and-forget-it services you can find online? All you have to do is plug in your info, and you're done." Using pre-made templates for trademark filing can be tempting, but doing so can leave you with inadequate protection and hurt you in the long run.

So, what is the easiest, most cost-effective route to consider that also minimizes legal risk? The truth is, before you spend money on an online filing service, it's best to consult with a trademark attorney working with clients in London, Ontario.

At Sausser Summers, PC, our experienced trademark attorneys can help you understand the trademark process step by step. We can even help with U.S. trademark filing, U.S. trademark responses, and U.S. trademark renewals at a price you can actually afford. That way, you can make an informed decision regarding your business without having to break the bank.

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Sausser Summers, PC: Simplifying the U.S. Trademark Process

Hiring an attorney can be a daunting task, but at Sausser Summers, PC, our goal is to make the process as simple and seamless as possible for you. That's why we offer a straightforward checkout service. First, you choose your flat fee trademark service and fill out a short questionnaire. Then, we will contact you within 24 hours to discuss the details of our service. From there, one of our experienced trademark attorneys will get to work on your behalf.

Using a trademark attorney for filing in London, Ontario, can significantly increase your chances of a successful registration. The U.S. government recommends hiring a trademark attorney to help with your application, and our team of trademark lawyers is dedicated to meeting your needs. In fact, we help ensure your application is filed correctly the first time so you can get on with your life and avoid legal risks.

At Sausser Summers, PC, we work closely with our clients to understand their needs and provide them with sound professional advice. We never offer incomplete services, such as simply filing for registration, because that would leave you open to legal risks. You can rely on us to handle your intellectual property matters, and our flat fee services can help protect your business in a simple, straightforward, and affordable way. It's really that simple.

In terms of filing a U.S. trademark, we provide an easy three-step process to protect your intellectual property:

1. You provide your trademark info to our team via an online form.

2. Our team performs a comprehensive trademark search. This search ensures that no other marks will prevent you from registering your trademark in the U.S. Once performed, we'll send you a legal opinion letter that details our findings.

3. Sausser Summers, PC, files your U.S. trademark application. We are then listed as your Attorney of Record on file. From there, we'll provide ongoing updates regarding the status of your trademark as it works through the registration process.

The bottom line? At Sausser Summers, PC, we give both new and seasoned business owners an easy, efficient, cost-effective way to protect the one asset that sets them apart from others: their name.

Online Trademark Attorney London, Ontario
The bottom line?

At Sausser Summers, PC, we give both new and seasoned business owners an easy, efficient, cost-effective way to protect the one asset that sets them apart from others: their name.

Do I Really Need a Trademark Attorney for Protecting My Business in London, Ontario?

It's not necessary to be a lawyer in order to apply for a trademark. Anyone can submit a trademark application to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). However, registering a trademark involves more than just filling out a form. It's essential to conduct thorough research, accurately identify and clearly explain your trademark to ensure it receives adequate protection. And even after securing a trademark, you've got to monitor it consistently to make sure it's free from infringement.

The big takeaway here is that it's always a good idea to work with a trademark attorney to protect the intellectual property that you've worked so hard to establish. According to the Wall Street Journal, applicants are approximately 50% more likely to secure their trademark than people who file applications on their own. If your trademark application is rejected by the USPTO, you will need to revise and refile it, incurring additional filing fees. To avoid delays and extra costs, it is best to have a trademark lawyer help you get it right the first time.

Additional Benefits of Using a Trademark Attorney

Great trademark attorneys (like those you'll find at Sausser Summers, PC) will help with every step of filing and enforcing your trademark. Some additional benefits include the following:

Check to see if your proposed trademark is registered by another entity.

Conduct research to see if another business is using the trademark for which you're applying.

Provide advice and guidance on the strength of your trademark.

Draft and submit your trademark applications and application revisions.

Advice and guidance regarding trademark maintenance and protection.

Monitor the market for unauthorized use of your trademark.

Trademark enforcement to protect you against infringement.

 Online Trademark Lawyer London, Ontario

Curious whether our trademark attorney services are right for you and your business? Contact Sausser Summer, PC, today. Let's talk about what you need, and how we can help.

What About Online Filing Services?

Online services, can provide you with basic assistance in filing your trademark. However, they will never be a legitimate substitute for an experienced trademark attorney helping clients in London, Ontario.

 Trademark Attorney London, Ontario

Although online filing services offer a step-by-step process, they take a one-size-fits-all approach to preparing legal documents. Even their advanced service only provides basic attorney assistance in completing your paperwork and helping with minor roadblocks. Online filing services' disclaimer highlights the many limitations of its services, including the fact that communications are not protected by attorney-client privilege. In addition, online filing services cannot provide advice, explanations, opinions, recommendations, or any kind of legal guidance on possible legal rights, remedies, defenses, options, selection of forms or strategies.

In other words, online filing services can offer you the necessary forms and point you in the right direction, but they cannot customize their services to your specific needs or help you with serious complications that may arise.

For the most comprehensive trademark service and protection, it's always wise to work with highly rated trademark lawyers, like you'll find at Sausser Summers, PC.

Understanding Trademarks Over Time

Trademarks in the U.S. can last indefinitely, but did you know that clients in London, Ontario can file a trademark online, only to lose protection in some circumstances? Trademarks differ from patents and copyrights in that they do not have an expiration date. However, to prevent the cancellation of a trademark, you must maintain it. To ensure that your trademark remains protected, you must actively use it in commerce and renew it with the USPTO every ten years.

The Lanham Act tells us that "use in commerce" is the legitimate use of a trademark in the ordinary course of trade. In other words, you cannot register a trademark solely to reserve the rights to it in the future. In most cases, a trademark must be used continuously in connection with the goods or services it is registered for.

 Trademark Law Firm London, Ontario

Steps to Renew Your Trademark

Trademarks are registered with the USPTO and generally need to be renewed every ten years. However, there is one crucial exception that you should be aware of. Within the first ten years of owning a trademark, you must file for renewal between the fifth and sixth year from the date of your initial registration.

During this renewal period, you are required to submit a Section 8 declaration, a specimen that shows how the mark is being used, and pay the required fee. You can also apply for Section 15 Incontestability status, which can strengthen your trademark rights. This application, although not mandatory, can make it harder for others to challenge your ownership of the mark.

After the first renewal, which falls between the fifth and sixth year of ownership, the next renewal filing is due between the ninth and tenth year, and then every tenth year thereafter. In the ninth year you will need to file a Section 8 declaration, attesting to your use of the mark or excusable nonuse. You've also got to file a Section 9 renewal application before the end of the tenth year to keep your registration active.

It is worth noting that the USPTO provides a six-month grace period if you fail to renew your mark within the required time frame, but it is best not to rely on it. If you don't file within the grace period time limits, the USPTO will cancel and expire your mark.

By hiring trademark attorneys helping clients in London, Ontario, you can avoid the pitfalls and mistakes that can arise and cause you to lose your rights to the mark that represents it.

Losing Your Trademark Rights Through Abandonment

In the event that you stop using your trademark and have no plans to resume using it in commerce, it may be considered abandoned by the USPTO. This could result in the loss of your protective rights to the mark. Typically, a trademark is assumed to be abandoned if it has not been used for three years. However, you may be able to refute this presumption by providing evidence that you intend to use the mark again in the future.

Losing Your Trademark Rights Through Inappropriate Licensing

In addition to trademark abandonment, you should also be wary of improper licensing. It's important to remember that once you allow someone else to use your trademark, you must keep an eye on how they use it. You should monitor the products or services that feature your trademark to ensure that they meet consumers' expectations in terms of quality. Failure to do so can lead to a "naked" trademark license and the loss of your protective trademark rights.

How to Avoid Having to Refile Your Trademark

If you're wondering how you can avoid refiling your trademark, the answer is simple: file it correctly the first time around. Filing a trademark isn't inherently difficult, but when doing so, it's very important that certain aspects are filled out accurately in your application. If any information is missing or incorrect, the trademark application may be considered "void ab initio" or void from the beginning, requiring you to file again.

To avoid this, make sure that the information you provide in the application is accurate and complete, including the ownership of the trademark. For instance, if a corporation has multiple shareholders, it should not file under the President's personal name. The rightful owner should be the one/entity that ultimately controls the trademark and the associated goods/services.

It is also important to ensure that the goods and/or services description is precise. For example, if you sell electronic products, you should not file for research and development services despite having a research and development department. The goods/services description should reflect the goods/services you offer to customers, not the departments within your business.

Additionally, providing accurate dates of first use when filing for a trademark is crucial. The USPTO requires two dates to be specified - the date of first use anywhere and the date of first use in interstate commerce. Contact our trademark law office today to learn more about having accurate dates on your filing paperwork.

 Trademark Lawyer London, Ontario
 Trademark Firm London, Ontario

What Makes an Online Trademark Attorney Great?

At Sausser Summers, PC, we often get questions about how to distinguish run-of-the-mill consultants and others from great trademark attorneys. After all - when you're looking for an attorney to file or prosecute your business trademark, you should know their qualifications. Here are three ways you can separate the proverbial wheat from the chaff when it comes to trademark attorneys.

It's crucial to seek legal advice from a licensed trademark lawyer rather than relying on advice from non-professionals like trademark consultants. The USPTO even recommends hiring an attorney to help with the trademark process. Although trademark consultants may provide advice on trademark availability or name marketability, they cannot file the trademark for you or offer legal advice. According to the Rules of Practicing in trademark cases, "Individuals who are not attorneys are not recognized to practice before the Office in trademark matters." This rule applies to individuals who assist trademark applicants.

When searching for a trademark attorney, it's important to find someone with a strong background in trademark law. Look for an attorney who specializes in this area and has significant experience handling trademark-related cases. Avoid lawyers who don't have expertise in this field, as they may not be able to provide the guidance and support you need.

Ensure your attorney provides updates throughout the trademark registration process to avoid missing deadlines, including responding to any Office actions within six months. Failure to do so can result in trademark abandonment. The USPTO will only correspond with the listed attorney of record, so make sure your attorney keeps you informed.

In summary:

  • Be sure you're using a licensed trademark attorney helping clients in London, Ontario.
  • It's best to work with a trademark lawyer who has years of experience filing trademarks.
  • Ensure that your trademark lawyer is willing to provide ongoing notifications relating to your trademark application process.
 Trademark Registration Lawyer London, Ontario

Trademark Attorneys Working Hard for You

Building your brand and gaining recognition for it is a significant achievement, and it's important to protect it. However, there are certain pitfalls and mistakes that can arise, causing you to lose your rights to the mark that represents it. By working with knowledgeable trademark attorneys, you can avoid these issues and file your trademark successfully.

With an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Sausser Summers, PC, offers comprehensive guidance, strategic advice, and reliable representation for a variety of trademark matters. Our attorneys have years of real-world experience and, having registered countless trademarks with the USPTO, provide our clients with individualized representation when they need it most.

If you're looking for skilled, adept, and experienced counsel, look no further than our trademark law firm. Contact us today to schedule your initial consultation and learn how we can help you safeguard your brand.

Latest News in London, Ontario

Private jets to get world-class hangar at London, Ont. airport

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Celebrities, wealthy individuals, C-suite executives and private travellers arriving in London, Ont., will step off their aircraft into a “world class” facility beginning next spring.

Construction of ADJ Aero’s 50,000-square-foot private hangar at London International Airport began Friday and is expected to be complete in March.

When it’s finished, the facility will serve a wide variety of fliers: medical transport, such as organ donation; charter aircraft for businesses; musical acts that fly in privately; business owners; and people who fly privately for leisure or business.

Private aircraft are already landing at the London airport, but the new facility will provide those that don’t go through the regular passenger terminal with “the nicest facility on the airport property,” airport president and CEO Scott McFadzean said Friday.

While McFadzean said was unaware of the cost of the project, noting that the airport is simply “leasing the land,” he said he believed it would be “quite a significant investment in the city.”

An ADJ Aero representative on hand for Friday’s groundbreaking did not provide comment, but in a news release announcing the development, ADJ Group of Companies president Andrew Charabin said “we are excited to bring this transformative endeavor to London.”

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“Our new aviation facility will not only enhance the accessibility and convenience of air travel but also foster the economic growth and vitality of the region.”

The news release also said the development was designed by 360 Smart Design and is being built by Aveiro Constructors Ltd. It will house fixed-base operators Executive Aviation and Flightexec.

“With an array of premium services from concierge, ground handling to fueling and catering, the spacious hangar will be able to accommodate various aircraft sizes and maintenance needs,” the release said.

Cherry blossoms are blooming in London, and the clock is ticking to see them

Several people gathered at Ivey Park in downtown London, Ont., to take photos of the blooming cherry blossoms on April 22, 2024.Cherry blossoms are in bloom across the city, and Londoners are being told to take advantage of the brilliant pinkish hues while they can.Small handfuls of people could be seen Monday taking photos of each other against the blossoming cherry trees in Ivey Park in downtown and at the Civic Garden Complex near Springbank Park.They're among several locations in the city where you can see the season...

Several people gathered at Ivey Park in downtown London, Ont., to take photos of the blooming cherry blossoms on April 22, 2024.

Cherry blossoms are in bloom across the city, and Londoners are being told to take advantage of the brilliant pinkish hues while they can.

Small handfuls of people could be seen Monday taking photos of each other against the blossoming cherry trees in Ivey Park in downtown and at the Civic Garden Complex near Springbank Park.

They're among several locations in the city where you can see the seasonal sights. But doing so is time-sensitive, with cherry blossom blooms only lasting a few weeks, said Mark Canaran, owner of Family Tree Arborist in London.

"The most brilliant ones I find here are the sweet cherry (Prunus avium) and the chokecherry (Prunus virginiana)," he said.

He estimates peak bloom in the city, when 70 per cent of blossoms have opened, will be in about a week's time.

Lisa Zukiwski was among those enjoying the cherry blossoms and snapping photos at the Civic Garden Complex. The Springfield, Ont., resident said she came specifically for the trees.

"I just love the blooming trees. I was over at Springbank there looking at those. It's just such a short season. I just had to come," she said.

She's patiently waiting for a large cherry tree on her own front lawn to blossom, Zukiwski said.

"Pink is my favourite colour. They're beautiful, just gives you a nice feeling being around them."

For others with cherry trees, Canaran says he recommends that residents get them mildly pruned during the dormant season to keep them healthy and looking their best.

In Toronto, Monday marked peak bloom for the famed cherry trees in the city's High Park, where tens of thousands of sightseers go every year to see the blossoms.

Know of a good place to see cherry blossoms in London? Email us the location at londonnewstips@cbc.ca.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Reporter/Editor

Matthew Trevithick is a radio and digital reporter with CBC London. Before joining CBC London in 2023, Matthew worked as a reporter and newscaster with 980 CFPL in London, Ont. Email him at matthew.trevithick@cbc.ca.

London (Ontario) Calling: Canada’s Ivey School Picks LBS’s Julian Birkinshaw As Next Dean

Julian Birkinshaw has spent the last quarter-century at London Business School. His next home will be a smaller London an ocean away.On Thursday (February 8), Ivey Business School at Western University in London, Ontario, Canada named Birkinshaw its next dean, effective August 1. What Birkinshaw loses in urbanity, he gains in familiarity: The long-time professor of strategy and entrepreneurship earned both ...

Julian Birkinshaw has spent the last quarter-century at London Business School. His next home will be a smaller London an ocean away.

On Thursday (February 8), Ivey Business School at Western University in London, Ontario, Canada named Birkinshaw its next dean, effective August 1. What Birkinshaw loses in urbanity, he gains in familiarity: The long-time professor of strategy and entrepreneurship earned both an MBA, in 1991, and a Ph.D. in business administration, in 1995, from Ivey.

He also met his wife Laura there.

“Doing my MBA at Ivey was very formative,” Birkinshaw says in the announcement of his appointment. “I loved it.”

AUTHOR OF 15 BOOKS & RECIPIENT OF MULTIPLE AWARDS

Birkinshaw, who is also currently vice dean at London Business School, joined LBS as an assistant professor in April 1999 and became a full professor with tenure in 2004. The native of Hexham in Northumberland, Great Britain is the author of 15 books and more than 90 scholarly papers, as well as the winner of multiple academic awards and honors, including the 2022 Harvard Business Review Prize for his article How Incumbents Survive and Thrive, an analysis of the impact of technological disruption on corporate stability. He holds honorary degrees from Copenhagen Business School and Stockholm School of Economics, and he is a Fellow of the British Academy, Strategic Management Society, and the (American) Academy of Management. He regularly ranks amongst the Thinkers50 list of global management thinkers.

In short, in the words of Western President Alan Shepard, Birkinshaw is “an internationally renowned scholar in business research and education,” whose “expertise on innovation, digital transformation, and the agility of large multinational firms will be invaluable” to Ivey and Western.

Birkinshaw replaces Ivey Dean Sharon Hodgson, who retires on June 30. He goes from one of the largest B-schools in the world to one that is smaller by a third: LBS has nearly 2,400 students across all programs; the Ivey School has about 1,600. In Poets&Quants‘ 2024 ranking of full-time MBA programs at international business schools, LBS ranked 4th, while Ivey was 25th. In The Financial Times’ 2023 global ranking of business schools, LBS ranked 16th and Ivey was 84th. (FT’s new ranking is out next week.)

EXCITED ABOUT IVEY’S ‘COMMITMENT TO PEDAGOGY’

There are advantages to the change in scenery. LBS is an independent business school, unattached to a larger university, and “If you want to teach about climate change, you don’t have the environmental sciences. If you want to teach about artificial intelligence, you don’t have computer scientists. I’m excited Ivey is part of a full-fledged university, with experts in these areas,” Birkinshaw says.

It was as a student at Ivey that Birkinshaw first became “a believer in innovation and agility,” according to the Ivey news release, which he sees as key to the future of business education. That’s evident in his track record: At LBS, he helped steer the creation of the school’s master’s in management program in 2010 and a master’s in analytics management in 2019. Birkinshaw is also credited with leading the school’s digital development in the years leading up to 2020, helping to create a suite of online courses that kept LBS students learning in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic — driven by his belief that B-schools must embrace, and lead, change in a time of rapid disruption.

Now he takes that belief across the Atlantic, where Ivey, which uses case-based teaching, presents what he calls “opportunities to evolve the world of business education.” Birkinshaw’s new academic home, which recently celebrated its centennial and is currently rolling out major changes as part of a new strategic plan, “is in a better place to deliver because the school has always been about leadership,” he says. “Using the case method puts the student in the shoes of the decision-maker, asking them to take on the complexities of being a leader.

“What excites me most about Ivey is what I experienced in terms of my learning about the business world — a commitment to a pedagogy that helps people understand the world of business properly, and to good quality research, which also influences the world of practice. Those are values I’ve held and pushed for throughout my career and are central to what Ivey has always done.”

Nor does the prospect of being at a smaller school, in a much smaller town, trouble Birkinshaw. “I’m eager to help consolidate Ivey’s position as the number-one business school in Canada,” he says, “and to raise its prominence globally. Ivey really helped shape my worldview, so the opportunity to help craft the school’s next stage of development is hugely exciting.”

‘WE NEED STUDENTS WHO UNDERSTAND THE WAY BUSINESS IMPACTS THE WORLD’

In December 2023, as the new year loomed, Birkinshaw shared with P&Q his hopes for 2024: “The economic, geopolitical and environmental challenges witnessed in 2023 are showing no signs of abating. Consequently, the overall landscape in which business schools will be operating in 2024 is likely to remain unsettled. The global cost of living crisis is still biting for many. Conflicts are fuelling humanitarian crises on a significant scale. Extreme weather events across the globe are demonstrating the climate emergency. All will continue to demand attention in 2024.

“Our students are the business leaders of tomorrow. We need to help them make sense of the pressing issues facing society – sustainability, social inequality, technological disruption — and give them the tools to help them find solutions. We also need to instil a sense of ambition in them — a courage to take responsibility for what needs to be done, rather than allowing others to set the agenda. In short, we want our students to become positive agents of change. We need leaders who understand the way business impacts the world and are willing to be part of the solution. After all, there is no Planet B.”

Birkinshaw has touched on these issues throughout his career, including during a “fireside chat” as part of P&Q’s CentreCourt event in June 2023. In a discussion with Matt Symonds, he spoke at length about how B-school students can change the world for the better. Watch the interview below.

Train goes up in flames while rolling through London, Ont. Here’s what we know

Train ride to hell? CPKC's rail cars catch fire, blazing trail to London, Ont.A CPKC train with five railcars went up in flames as it was travelling in London, Ont., on Sunday night. No injuries were reported and fire officials said on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the railcars were carrying old railway materials made of wood and so there were no dangerous goods involved.More Videos0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcutsKeyboard ShortcutsEnabledDi...

Train ride to hell? CPKC's rail cars catch fire, blazing trail to London, Ont.

A CPKC train with five railcars went up in flames as it was travelling in London, Ont., on Sunday night. No injuries were reported and fire officials said on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the railcars were carrying old railway materials made of wood and so there were no dangerous goods involved.

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'Teachers want kids to pay attention,' Ford says as Ontario limits cell phone use in schools

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Five railcars on a CPKC train went up in flames as they were travelling in London, Ont., on Sunday night.

Platoon chief Colin Shewall said the railcars were carrying used wooden railway ties, which are used in laying railway tracks, and no injuries were reported.

“My understanding is the locomotives were tested recently for any type of emissions, and they passed that,” Shewell said.

“The train crew disconnected the cars that were on fire with some possible dangerous goods that were on board other cars that were empty, but still a threat.”

Still, residents in the area were urged to stay inside with windows shut because of heavy smoke just south of Oxford Street between Richmond and Waterloo streets.

The London Fire Department said multiple 911 calls came in from residents in the west end of the city at 10:49 p.m. The train continued travelling, heading eastbound to downtown, before coming to stop at Waterloo and Pall Mall streets.

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“At the height of the incident, we had about 28 firefighters and 10 apparatus on scene,” Shewell said.

Crews focused on protecting the Drewlo Holdings building from smoke and fire damage and used about 250 litres of foam to get the fire down.

By 12:30 a.m. Monday, firefighters lifted the request for residents to stay indoors with windows shut, saying there was no more smoke in the area.

Shortly after 1 a.m., fire crews began clearing the scene and CP crews moved the train cars to the railway yard that stretches between Adelaide and Quebec streets, just north of Central Avenue.

Eight firefighters and two apparatus were then dispatched to the yard to finish dousing hot spots, using a “T-Rex Aerial Truck,” the fire department said, and remained there until around 4:30 a.m.

Damage is pegged at $25,000 for any maintenance required due to heat stress on the rail cars and $10,000 to the Drewlo Holding building at Waterloo and Pall Mall streets (formerly the Siskinds building).

Shewell said the railway company was investigating the cause of the fire but that “at this point it’s deemed obviously suspicious until proven otherwise.”

A CPKC spokesperson said only that the incident “remains under investigation.” They also extended thanks to London’s first responders for their “effective response.”

Shewell also took the opportunity to praise the co-operation involved in responding to the fire, particularly from the rail crews.

“We called our partners at city hall to make sure that we were looking after any runoff into the water system, and that was looked after,” he said.

“We worked in conjunction, unified command, with CP rail as well.… The crews crew did a great job, the conductor and engineer also supplied us with pertinent information of what we were exactly dealing with. I can’t say enough about CP employees all around that helped make sure that we could bring this situation under control.”

— with files from Global News’ Ben Harrietha

Viral London train fire sparks many questions. Here are the key ones

Article contentAn investigation is underway into a Sunday evening freight train fire in the city’s core that caused about $35,000 damage to five rail cars and a downtown building and lit up social media. But it remains to be seen what sparked the blaze, an occurrence that happens about once a week on average in Canada. Our Jennifer Bieman reportsHow did a burning freight train end up in downtown London? Article contentArticle contentA massive nighttime fire engulfed five CP...

Article content

An investigation is underway into a Sunday evening freight train fire in the city’s core that caused about $35,000 damage to five rail cars and a downtown building and lit up social media. But it remains to be seen what sparked the blaze, an occurrence that happens about once a week on average in Canada. Our Jennifer Bieman reports

How did a burning freight train end up in downtown London?

Article content

Article content

A massive nighttime fire engulfed five CPKC Rail freight train cars north of the core Sunday. Multiple residents called 911 to report an eastbound Canadian Pacific Kansas City train on fire along Oxford Street near Cherryhill Village Mall at about 10:45 p.m.

London fire crews intercepted the train near Waterloo and Pall Mall streets. More than two dozen firefighters used water and foam to douse the flames. The train crew disconnected the burning cars that were carrying wooden rail ties from other empty cars used to carry hazardous material.

No injuries or significant damage to property were reported.

Who’s investigating the incident?

CPKC has launched its own investigation into the incident, spokesperson Terry Cunha said Tuesday. No further updates on the status of the probe were available Tuesday.

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) – an independent agency that probes air, marine, pipeline and rail transportation incidents – may launch a full investigation into the train fire as well, but it’s not a given, said Ian Naish, a rail safety consultant.

Article content

“They’ll investigate ones they think they can learn something from and apply those lessons to other events to minimize risk,” said Naish, a former chief of policy, regulations and standards for Transport Canada’s Railway Safety Directorate.

The TSB said Monday it was aware of the incident and was gathering information.

If the TSB does launch a full investigation into Sunday’s fire, the final report on the incident will likely take many months to complete, Naish said.

What causes train fires?

Speaking generally about train fires and not about the particular London incident, Naish said there are a few potential culprits. Arson or vandalism are possibilities, he said, but there also are other potential ignition sources involving the train itself.

“Equipment can be faulty and you can get sparks,” he said. “Bits of hot metal can also start fires. . . . Wheels of trains get hot.”

Sparks also can fly out of the train’s exhaust system if the system is not well maintained, Naish said.

Sparks and pieces of hot metal flying off trains have been culprits in bush fires along rail tracks, Naish said.

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Investigators hunting for what caused a fire will interview witnesses, including fire crews, and piece together the events leading up to the crash using locomotive data recording software, communications with train dispatch and other details, Naish said.

How common are train fires?

Of the 995 accidents investigated by the TSB in 2022, the latest year data is available, 46 were fires or explosions aboard trains. In 2021, fires aboard trains accounted for 46 of the 898 accidents investigated by the national transportation safety regulator.

Fires and explosions aboard rolling stock, an industry term for rail cars, is one of several categories of accidents investigated by the TSB. Derailments, crossing accidents and incidents involving trespassers were the top three accidents reported by the TSB in 2022.

The number of fires involving rolling stock has been increasing since 2012, TSB statistics show. In 2012, the board investigated 17 fires and 10 the following year. From 2014-18, the number of train fires probed by the board hovered in the low- to mid 30s.

jbieman@postmedia.com

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