Railcars transporting hazardous materials that derailed in a remote area of North Dakota were mostly extinguished on Saturday, a day after the incident. Luckily, no injuries were reported by officials on Friday. The threat to nearby residents was deemed low, with no air contamination detected in the vicinity or downwind, as confirmed by county emergency management.
The incident occurred around 3:45 a.m. when twenty-nine cars of a CPKC train derailed in a marshy area surrounded by farmland, approximately 140 miles (225 kilometers) northwest of Fargo, according to county emergency management director Andrew Kirking. Kirking mentioned in a statement on Saturday that while the fire may still occasionally reignite as responders move railcars, firefighting efforts overnight and in the morning have been highly successful.
The derailed cars were carrying hazardous materials such as anhydrous ammonia, methanol, and plastic pellets, as per the latest information from emergency officials. Bill Suess, spill investigation program manager for the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality, highlighted ammonia as a potential risk. However, favorable winds were dispersing the smoke away from the nearby town of Bordulac, home to approximately 20 residents.
Health officials warned that exposure to high concentrations of airborne ammonia can lead to various health issues, including irritation to the eyes, nose, throat, respiratory tract, and in severe cases, blindness, lung damage, or even death. Inhaling lower amounts of ammonia can cause coughing and throat irritation.
On Friday, CPKC announced the activation of its emergency response plan and the launch of a thorough and coordinated response. The merger of Canadian Pacific Railway and Kansas City Southern last year formed the CPKC railroad. The National Transportation Safety Board revealed that an investigation into the incident is underway.
