(The Canadian Press circulated the following on April 7.)
RALPH, Sask. — People in a rural area of southeast Saskatchewan were told to evacuate Monday when rail cars caught fire following a crash involving three Canadian Pacific Railway trains, some carrying dangerous goods.
Railway officials said the train cars on fire were empty but contained residue of a regulated commodity called vinyl acetate, a substance used in the manufacture of household and wood glue. Up to 14 cars in total derailed.
The accident forced the closure of the rail line and Highway 39 near the tiny farming community of Ralph, about 150 kilometres southeast of Regina.
Smoke and flames poured from at least two train cars as fire, police and hazardous materials crews responded to the scene.
“At approximately 8:15 a.m., a southbound Canadian Pacific train made contact with a second train, which was stationary. There was a third train sitting adjacent on the siding,” said CP spokesman Mike LoVecchio.
“There are two cars on fire that I know of. There were no injuries and no threats to people in the surrounding area.”
One train car near the burning cars was carrying glycol. Another had been carrying butane, but was empty at the time of the crash, he said.
RCMP reported that some of the cars contained di-nitrogen tetroxid and nitric oxide.
People living within 1 1/2 kilometres of the area, including two farm families, were asked to leave as a precaution.
LoVecchio said Canadian Pacific would begin investigating once the fire was out.
A Weyburn fire department official said as a precaution they were going to allow the cars to burn themselves out.
There was no immediate information on how many cars in total made up the three trains.
“The critical thing here is that public safety is protected,” he said. “We are looking after the residents who have been affected.”
Di-nitrogen tetroxid can burn eyes, lungs and skin. Nitric oxide can also be corrosive.