(The following story by Richard Edwards appeared on The Daily Post-Athenian website on January 20.)
CALHOUN, Tenn. — Residents in 11 homes were allowed to return to their homes early this morning after railroad cars carrying a chemical substance derailed Monday night in Calhoun, Mayor J.B. Arnwine said.
Shane Jenkins, chief of the McMinn County Hazardous Materials Team, said three tank cars containing sulfuric acid were involved in the derailment, along with an empty box car.
One of the three tank cars overturned on its side but officials determined that none of the chemical leaked, Jenkins said.
The derailment occurred about 6:50 p.m. as a Norfolk Southern Railway crew was interchanging cars out of the CSX line in the railyard near the Hiwassee River, said Norfolk Southern Public Relations Manager Susan Bland.
Arnwine said 11 homes on Highland Avenue were evacuated with some residents going to Calhoun First Baptist Church and others to Calhoun United Methodist Church.
Heavy equipment arrived from Atlanta, Ga., around 11:30 p.m. to upright the derailed cars, and the residents were allowed to return to their homes around 4 a.m.
Jenkins said the Calhoun Fire Department, Calhoun Police Department, the McMinn County Sheriff?s Department and the Charleston Fire Department were involved in the operations along with the Hazardous Materials Team. The Athens Fire Department also assisted with the use of its command post set up at a nearby industry, Southern Ionics.
“I?d like to commend all the agencies that assisted,” Jenkins said. “Obviously, this could have been a very catastrophic event but it had a positive outcome. All the agencies cooperated very well.”
Jenkins said officials arriving at the derailment scene didn?t think the tank cars were leaking but they wanted to err on the side of caution because of the proximity of the nearby residences and the river.
Bland added that chemical cars “are incredibly strong and well-made.” She said the cause of the derailment is under investigation.
Arnwine expressed his appreciation to the two churches for providing coffee and delivering it to the firefighters and other emergency personnel.