Posted on Mar 10, 2023
When train crashes leak harmful chemicals, small town firefighters can be vulnerable
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https://www.npr.org/2023/03/10/ [login to see] /fire-fighter-safety-train-derailment
More than 90 million tons of hazardous materials are transported on American railroads a year. The trains rumble by towns at all hours, blaring their horns. Chemicals potent enough to kill people or lead to cancer can be sloshing around inside.
Accidents that result in the release of hazardous materials are rare, but when trains do crash, the consequences can be serious. Most of the recent ones that caused evacuations have happened near small communities, NPR found. Local firefighters who respond are uniquely vulnerable to the effects. But across the country, they are often under-prepared to handle the chemicals when they come off the tracks.
It happened in East Palestine, Ohio, on Feb. 3. At least 1.1 million pounds of carcinogens were emitted, a federal lawsuit has alleged, after 11 cars with hazardous materials derailed and caught fire. Hundreds of the village's approximately 4,700 residents fled their homes as the East Palestine Fire Department did its best to respond to the scene. The department employs just one full-time firefighter – the rest are volunteers. It took more than six hours after the initial derailment for firefighters trained in flammable liquid emergencies to arrive from nearby East Liverpool.
More than 90 million tons of hazardous materials are transported on American railroads a year. The trains rumble by towns at all hours, blaring their horns. Chemicals potent enough to kill people or lead to cancer can be sloshing around inside.
Accidents that result in the release of hazardous materials are rare, but when trains do crash, the consequences can be serious. Most of the recent ones that caused evacuations have happened near small communities, NPR found. Local firefighters who respond are uniquely vulnerable to the effects. But across the country, they are often under-prepared to handle the chemicals when they come off the tracks.
It happened in East Palestine, Ohio, on Feb. 3. At least 1.1 million pounds of carcinogens were emitted, a federal lawsuit has alleged, after 11 cars with hazardous materials derailed and caught fire. Hundreds of the village's approximately 4,700 residents fled their homes as the East Palestine Fire Department did its best to respond to the scene. The department employs just one full-time firefighter – the rest are volunteers. It took more than six hours after the initial derailment for firefighters trained in flammable liquid emergencies to arrive from nearby East Liverpool.
When train crashes leak harmful chemicals, small town firefighters can be vulnerable
Posted from npr.org
Firefighting
Hazmat
Chemicals
Cancer
Posted 1 y ago
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."Norfolk Southern has announced it will open a center in the state that will offer free training for first responders in Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. Towns elsewhere hoping to also prepare in advance for future derailments might not have access to hazmat route information. Railroad companies have to disclose the routes of trains carrying hazardous materials to the Federal Railroad Administration, but the agency does not share that information publicly. Railroads consider the information to be proprietary, and believe making it public could raise security issues. Though local government officials may request a list of the hazardous materials transported by rail through their communities, the information is shared on a need-to-know basis according to Department of Homeland Security guidance.
The confidentiality of materials transported by rail was called into question after the accident in East Palestine.
"The railroad was not required to notify anyone here in Ohio about what was in the rail cars coming through our state," said Ohio Governor Mark DeWine at a press conference. "Congress needs to take a look at how these things are handled."
Barrie Hardymon edited this story, Monika Evstatieva produced it. Barbara Van Woerkom contributed research. Photo editing by Emily Bogle."
..."Norfolk Southern has announced it will open a center in the state that will offer free training for first responders in Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. Towns elsewhere hoping to also prepare in advance for future derailments might not have access to hazmat route information. Railroad companies have to disclose the routes of trains carrying hazardous materials to the Federal Railroad Administration, but the agency does not share that information publicly. Railroads consider the information to be proprietary, and believe making it public could raise security issues. Though local government officials may request a list of the hazardous materials transported by rail through their communities, the information is shared on a need-to-know basis according to Department of Homeland Security guidance.
The confidentiality of materials transported by rail was called into question after the accident in East Palestine.
"The railroad was not required to notify anyone here in Ohio about what was in the rail cars coming through our state," said Ohio Governor Mark DeWine at a press conference. "Congress needs to take a look at how these things are handled."
Barrie Hardymon edited this story, Monika Evstatieva produced it. Barbara Van Woerkom contributed research. Photo editing by Emily Bogle."
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