A fire broke out in rail cars carrying hazardous material that derailed early Friday and continued to burn for over 12 hours in a remote area of North Dakota.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported and it seems that the residents living nearby are not at significant risk.
CPKC Train Carrying Hazardous Materials Derails in North Dakota
According to AP News, a train operated by CPKC experienced a derailment early this morning in a marshy area surrounded by farmland.
According to Andrew Kirking, the emergency management director for Foster County, the incident occurred around 3:45 a.m. The location of the derailment is approximately 140 miles (225 kilometers) northwest of Fargo.
By late afternoon on Friday, July 5, responders were able to shift their focus towards actively fighting the flames. They have also achieved some success in reducing the fire's intensity. Despite the presence of water on both sides of the tracks, officials were still making efforts to bring the equipment closer.
According to Bill Suess, spill investigation program manager for the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality, the cars were transporting anhydrous ammonia, sulfur, and methanol.
The ammonia posed the greatest danger, but fortunately, the wind was blowing the smoke away from the small town of Bordulac, home to approximately 20 residents.
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Ammonia Exposure
According to health officials, being exposed to high concentrations of ammonia in the air can lead to severe consequences such as burning sensations in the eyes, nose, throat, and respiratory tract. In some cases, it can even result in blindness, lung damage, or even death.
Exposure to smaller quantities may lead to symptoms such as coughing and irritation of the nose and throat.
Currently, officials have no immediate plans to evacuate residents in the vicinity. However, the situation may be subject to change if there is a shift in wind direction, according to Suess.
Kirking stated that the cause of the derailment remained unknown and both the engineer and conductor managed to escape unharmed.
Kirking mentioned that approximately 10 to 15 rail cars were engulfed in flames. A video shared on the social platform X depicted a fierce blaze engulfing the area. The fire continued to rage throughout the day on Friday. A railroad fire crew arrived at the scene.
In a statement, CPKC announced that it has activated its emergency response plan and is implementing a thorough and coordinated response.
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