(The following story by Renato Gandia appeared on the Edmonton Sun website on August 3, 2010.)
AIRDRIE, Alberta — Thirty rail cars — some carrying agricultural chemicals headed to Calgary — derailed north of Calgary on Tuesday, leaving emergency crews scrambling to prevent possible toxic leaks.
Airdrie Fire Chief Sheldon Leavitt said emergency crews were called to the scene at 7:15 a.m. after reports a Canadian Pacific Railway train went off the track, about 1.5 km north of Airdrie, Alta.
“We have approximately nine tanker cars that contain anhydrous ammonia that have come off of the track and a number of other cars including empty and loaded grain cars,” he said.
The 101-car train that originated in Edmonton derailed at two segments, the southerly portions of which were carrying the chemicals.
Leavitt said emergency crews have determined the ammonia was contained and nothing leaked to the ground.
“Of the greatest concerns for responders and CP Rail at this point in time is the southerly portion, that holds the nine anhydrous cars and that’s where our greatest potential (for danger) exists,” he said.
Crews have evacuated three nearby farmsteads within 400 metres as a precaution as they figured out how to get the derailed cars back on track without causing any chemical leaks.
CP Rail spokesman Mark Seland said officials are still investigating what caused the derailment.
“It may takes months before we know the cause of this incident,” he said.
He also said it’s not immediately known how long the derailed cars will block the railway’s line.
An estimated crew of 60 people, including federal and provincial officials, were still working on plans for loading off the materials from the tankers, he said.
Leavitt said they are developing multiple plans to deal with the situation.
“CP rail is certainly concerned with the investigation and the cause of the derailment but right now our emphasis is on dealing with the situation, reducing the hazards and bringing it to a successful conclusion,” he said.
The area has been contained and road access has been reduced.
Crews continue to monitor air quality to the south of the wreckage but officials said there are no plans for any further evacuations.
Anhydrous ammonia is a commonly used fertilizer. It is a hazardous substance and contact with the chemical is dangerous at any concentration, according to the Alberta Agriculture website.
It’s a colourless gas but when released in high concentrations it appears like a dense steam.
High-level concentration has a pungent odour and if a person is exposed it will sting and irritate the nose, throat and eyes.
There were no reports of injuries but the derailed cars were heavily damaged.