(The Fresno Bee posted the following story by George Hostetter on its website on April 21.)
KERMAN, Calif. — Dozens of residents in a quiet neighborhood on the south side of this small farm town were evacuated early Monday afternoon when a San Joaquin Valley Railroad train derailed and caught fire.
Fire officials feared one of the train’s tanker cars contained thousands of gallons of anhydrous ammonia, a highly toxic chemical often used in the agricultural industry. The tanker car, though, was empty, as were two others.
The wreck occured about 50 yards south of the intersection of A and 3rd streets. There were no injuries. The train sustained about $300,000 damage, including two severely damaged engines and a boxcar containing tomato paste.