(The Canadian Press circulated the following on December 7, 2009.)
SPY HILL, Sask. — Several tank cars continued to burn Monday at a site in southeastern Saskatchewan where a CN freight train derailed two days earlier.
A three-kilometre evacuation zone remained in effect near Spy Hill, but CN spokesman Kevin Franchuk said thick, black smoke from the fire was nearly gone.
Franchuk said two propane tank cars were still burning and a few cars that held benzene and plastic pellets were smouldering.
He said experts from the province’s Environment Ministry said there were no health risks.
A temporary track around the derailment was expected to be completed later Monday and trains – including Via Rail – were expected to resume running on the line by early evening.
The Transportation Safety Board was investigating the cause of the derailment which involved 36 cars on the 168-car train.