Chemicals burn on derailed train in Kentucky
Source: Reuters
CHICAGO, Jan 17 (Reuters) - Fire and smoke spewed from a derailed CSX <CSX.N> freight train carrying chemicals on Wednesday more than a day after the accident in Kentucky, as officials began a controlled burn of toxic materials still on board. Kentucky Gov. Ernie Fletcher said experts determined the safest approach was to gradually drain three remaining tank cars containing 90,000 gallons (409,000 litres) of the chemical butadiene into a pit and set the contents ablaze. Burning the chemical, a potential carcinogen used in making synthetic rubber, breaks it down and makes it less toxic. A fourth tanker car carrying butadiene ruptured during Tuesday's derailment. Fire continued to consume other chemicals from ruptured tank cars and derailed boxcars containing commodities such as paper rolls, CSX spokesman Gary Sease said. It was not clear exactly how long the fire would take to burn out, and crews used water and foam to douse some blazes. An area roughly a mile (1.6 km) around the accident site remained evacuated, and officials were taking readings of the air quality. Roughly 25 people have sought medical attention since the fire broke out, but there were no serious injuries, officials said. There are a few housing developments and industrial properties scattered around the generally rural area. The 80-car train bound for Louisville derailed on Tuesday morning about 30 miles (50 km) South of the city, and exploded in flames. The stretch of track where 20 cars in the middle of the train derailed has a 50 mile per hour (80 km/hr) speed limit, Sease said. The most recent inspection of the track by the railroad was the day before the accident. Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board were analyzing data from a recorder on board the train -- similar to an airplane's black box -- that would determine how fast it was going. "We are treating this as an accident. There is no reason to believe it is anything other than an accident," Safety Board chairman Mark Rosenker told reporters.
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