(The following story by Steve Moore and Zeke Minaya appeared on The Press-Enterprise website on March 7.)
MECCA, Calif. — Evacuated farmworker families and growers could learn today when they can return to their homes and farms following Monday night’s train derailment and chemical spill, authorities said.
Lifting the evacuation would involve a supervised, phased return under a re-entry plan.
Evacuees will also be given a packet answering basic questions and outlining needed precautions, Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department Capt. Fernando Herrera said.
“Everybody will have questions, ‘Can I pet my dog? I left my window open, do I need to wash all my linen, do I need to wash all my clothing?’ ” Herrera said.
By late Thursday, much of the phosphoric acid and hydrochloric acid spilled from the tanker cars had been cleaned up — except for removing an unknown amount of contaminated soil and replacing it with fresh dirt, Herrera said.
“We’re moving a lot faster than we anticipated,” Herrera said. “We’re getting closer to the point where we can say it’s safe.”
Road closures, including a section of Highway 111 and the 9-square-mile evacuation area, remained in effect Thursday.
On Thursday, residents and farmers were escorted into the evacuated area so that they could check on their homes, livestock and crops.
For Ricardo Casarez, 37, lifting the evacuation can’t come soon enough.
The date farm manager, his wife and six youngsters ages 4 to 16 share a single hotel room.
“We left the house with nothing,” he said.
Union Pacific Railroad has reimbursed the family for the roughly $1,350 spent on food, lodging and clothing.
Casarez worries about the bills and wants to get back to work quickly, but gives thanks that his family is healthy.
“Taking care of six kids in one room is difficult,” he said. “But at least we are all together.”
Emergency crews got some good news after untangling a pileup: Three rail cars carrying acid didn’t leak, Herrera said.
By late Thursday afternoon, acid had been pumped out of two of the rail cars into tanker trucks and a third was being emptied, he said.
Two leaking rail cars have already been emptied, Herrera said.
A private company tested the contaminated soil, which will be removed, said Zoe Gisela Richmond, a spokeswoman for Union Pacific Railroad.
The cause of Monday night’s 8:45 p.m. train derailment remains under investigation.
No one was injured in the accident.