(The following article by Heather Knight appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle.)
SAN FRANCISCO –A Union Pacific freight train derailed in Crockett Sunday night and began leaking potentially hazardous materials, prompting authorities to issue a brief warning to local residents to stay inside their homes, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The train derailed shortly after 8 p.m. near 550 Loring Ave., sending a gaseous cloud into the air. The gas was believed to be anhydrous ammonia — a mix of nitrogen and hydrogen that can be lethal if inhaled — which caused the heavy concern, said CHP officer Timothy Willock.
The cloud quickly dissipated, but a white, powdery substance was found on the ground and had yet to be identified as of Sunday night, Willock said. It wasn’t deemed dangerous enough to keep local residents inside their homes.
“It’s on the ground,” Willock said. “It’s not going to go anywhere.”
Willock said the derailment involved all 16 cars of the train, but a Union Pacific spokesman said the train was smaller.
Mike Furtney, the railroad’s spokesman, said the train had just eight cars. He also said that the gaseous cloud was not anhydrous ammonia but was instead just dust.
He said six cars had once held a form of petroleum, but that no remnants from the previous trip were found Sunday night. He said the powdery substance was merely aluminum.
What was certain Sunday night was that the train — which was bound from Oakland to Roseville — derailed shortly after 8 p.m., with warning sirens blaring soon thereafter to alert nearby residents to stay indoors.
It is not known what caused the derailment. Two crew members were aboard, and neither were injured, Furtney said.
The “shelter in place” warning given to neighbors in Crockett and Rodeo means they should stay in their homes, close all doors and windows, bring animals inside and turn off any heaters or air-conditioners. An evacuation order was not deemed necessary, Willock said. The warning was lifted at 10:23 p.m.
The CHP received its first calls at 8:53 p.m. and sent four officers to the scene just east of the Carquinez Bridge. They were joined by officers from the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office, the Contra Costa Fire Department and the Contra Costa Health Department.
The CHP will team with the other agencies to clean up the area, Willock said. The only roadway affected was Loring, which was shut down between Jackson and Pomona streets Sunday night.
Many questions remained unanswered Sunday night.
“We don’t know why it derailed,” Willock said. “We don’t know all the ramifications yet.”