(The Associated Press circulated the following article on April 23.)
CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — A tanker car that derailed from a railroad track early Saturday morning caught fire and ignited two other tanker cars, including one that carried an explosive material, authorities said.
About 100 people who live near the area were evacuated for about eight hours as a precaution, said Ross County Sheriff Ronald Nichols. No injuries were reported.
The derailed tanker carried a liquid that is used as a cleaning solvent and fuel. It remained at the tracks Saturday afternoon and continued to burn, Nichols said. Fluid continued to leak and re-ignite and fire crews used water in an attempt to cool the tanker.
Nichols said the tanker carried thousands of gallons of the flammable liquid and could burn for up to two days, but the fire had been contained to about the size of a campfire.
“Right now, it’s no threat to anybody,” he said.
Crews extinguished the fires on the other tankers, which were then hauled to a nearby rail yard. One of the tankers contained an explosive paint thinner.
The tankers caught fire about 3:10 a.m. as the CSX Corp. train traveled north of the city near U.S. 23, Nichols said.
He said authorities were consulting with federal agencies, the railroad company and several chemical companies. CSX is based in Jacksonville, Fla.
Hazardous material crews and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency also were on site.
Chillicothe is about 45 miles south of Columbus.