Pennsylvania Town Evacuated After Train Derails, Catches Fire
HYNDMAN, Pa. (KDKA/AP) -- Nearly three dozen cars of a freight train carrying hazardous materials careened off the tracks in a small Pennsylvania town Wednesday, igniting fires in some rail cars and a garage and forcing emergency officials to evacuate the whole town.
No injuries were reported.
At least 32 cars on the CSX freight train derailed about 5 a.m. in Hyndman, about 100 miles southeast of Pittsburgh, said CSX spokesman Rob Doolittle. The train was traveling from Chicago to Selkirk, New York.
At least one car containing liquid petroleum gas, and one containing molten sulfur leaked and caught fire, Doolittle said. A residential garage struck during the derailment also caught fire, officials said.
CSX released the following statement about the accident:
CSX continues to work closely with emergency personnel in Hyndman, Penn., to assess the scene where a train derailed several rail cars at about 5 a.m. today near Center Street. There are no reports of any injuries. The Hyndman Fire Department has issued an evacuation of everyone within a half mile of the site, and CSX is working to get resources to residents who are impacted. Our top priority is to work cooperatively with first responders and other officials to protect the safety of the community.
It was not immediately known what caused the train to run off the rails, and the fire continued to burn hours after the derailment.
The only confirmed structure fire was at the garage, but video from the scene seems to show more extensive damage.
Aerial footage of the derailment shows a number of cars stacked nearly perpendicular to the tracks while others landed in a burning, zig-zag pattern in a residential area where some structures seemed crushed and other ablaze.
WATCH: Surveillance Footage Shows Train Derailment --
Hyndman resident Jim Shaffer told the (Cumberland) Times-News he was awakened by the sound of crashing rail cars.
"It woke me up. It was louder than a thunderstorm," he said. "I heard the cars banging into each other. Then I heard the fire whistle."
Bedford County 911 coordinator Harry Corley said officials ordered everyone within a 1-mile radius of the derailment to leave hours after the derailment. The order encompasses the entire town of Hyndman, and residents have been directed to two local churches for help with lodging and food.
In a statement Wednesday night, CSX said it was unclear how long the residents would be evacuated or how long cleanup would take.
Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf, in a phone interview from an evacuation center several miles away from the train, said some neighbors have refused to leave their homes.
"But everyone knows where they are and they're safe at this point," Wolf said Wednesday afternoon.
Only a few people were in the churches, as most evacuees chose to go to hotels or the homes of friends or relatives, he said.
Wolf said officials were conducting air and ground studies to determine possible health effects.
He said area residents have "a lot of uncertainty and everyone's hoping for the best, praying for the best."
Asked about the risk of a propane explosion, Wolf said, "There's always that possibility. I think, from what I hear, the potential of that happening has diminished somewhat."
He also thanked first responders.
"These first responders deserve all of our thanks for their swift work to respond to this ongoing incident," Wolf said via Twitter.
A number of roads are closed, and some flight restrictions are in place.
Federal investigators arrived at the scene late Wednesday afternoon but weren't able to assess the situation because the fires were still burning.
The National Transportation Safety Board spokesman Terry Williams said he expects them to get a better sense of the scene by Thursday.
Amtrak suspended train service between Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C., providing buses to take passengers between the two stations.
"CSX apologizes for the impact that this incident is having on the residents of Hyndman," Doolittle said.
Hyndman is a town of just over 800 residents near the Maryland border.
"CSX's top priority is to work cooperatively with first responders and other officials to protect the public's safety, and CSX personnel are on the scene assisting first responders, providing information about the contents of the train and expertise on responding to railroad incidents," Doolittle said.
CSX has set up a community outreach center at Hyndman Ministry Church, located at 152 Hyndman Road, where anyone impacted by the train derailment and evacuation can ask questions and seek additional resources.
Community members can also call 1-800-331-4031 if they have any questions.
Salvation Army staff and volunteers from Altoona and Somerset counties also responded to the scene and are providing emergency cots, blankets and sheltering equipment, as well as additional food and beverages for the evacuees.
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(© Copyright 2017 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
