(The following report appeared on the Freemont Tribune website on August 5.)
FREEMONT, Neb. — A 15-car train derailment caused the closing of several Fremont streets early this morning.
Lt. Jeff Elliott of the Fremont Police Department said officers notified residents they could leave their homes if they wished because emergency workers initially were told at 11:54 p.m. there was a flammable liquid leaking from a southbound Burlington Northern Santa Fe train in the area of Factory and Schneider streets.
Elliott said it is unclear if any actually did.
Officers also closed several streets in the area as firefighters assessed the scene. The streets were closed for about an hour.
Fremont Fire Department Captain Jamie Meyer said just before firefighters arrived they were notified there was no hazardous chemical leak, but there were two ethanol cars on the train.
He said when firefighters arrived and got the shipping list from the conductor, it was determined there were two ethanol cars. An empty ethanol car had left the tracks, but remained upright. A full ethanol car was still on the tracks and neither car was leaking.
Meyer said the only leak found was oats leaking from one car.
As of press time, railroad officials remained on scene cleaning up the derailed cars.