(The following article by Zlati Meyer was posted on the Detroit free-Press website on September 13.)
DETROIT — An off-duty Independence Township firefighter spotted something leaking Sunday from a commercial train in Springfield Township.
Shortly after 9 a.m., the firefighter noticed a yellow material seeping out of a tanker between Clark and Andersonville roads, said Sgt. John Jacobson from the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office. The Springfield Township Fire Department, the regional hazardous materials team and sheriff’s deputies responded.
By 12:50 p.m., investigators determined that the substance, which Jacobson didn’t identify, was neither toxic nor hazardous.
“It definitely puts us at attention,” said township Trustee Dave Hopper.
He said the train was operated by CSX and that the company has been a good neighbor.
“There’ve been a few instances in the past,” Hopper said. “A few years ago, we had … fires when trains experienced brake trouble. We billed them, and they paid.”
A call to CSX on Sunday was not returned.