9 replies to this topic

[CNJRoss]

AP via ABC News, 5/6:
 

 

Oil Train Derailment Prompts Evacuation in North Dakota Town

HEIMDAL, N.D. — May 6, 2015, 11:16 AM ET

 

A town of about three dozen people in central North Dakota has been evacuated after an oil train derailed and caught fire.

 

Wells County Emergency Manager Tammy Roehrich says no injuries have been reported from the Wednesday morning accident near Heimdal (HYM'-dahl), about 115 miles northeast of Bismarck.

 

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[CNJRoss]

KX News (HD-CBS), Bismarck and Minot, ND, 5/6:
 

Derailment Near Harvey

 

BREAKING: Statement from BNSF

"At approximately 7:30 am CDT today, a train operating approximately 50 miles east of Minot, ND derailed carrying crude oil. Initial reports from the crew indicate there are no injuries but a fire has been reported at the scene. The tank cars involved in the incident are the unjacketed CPC-1232 models. BNSF will work with the nearest first responders."

 

 

The North Dakota Department of Emergency Services confirms 10 rail tank cars are burning near Hamburg, ND following an early morning derailment.

 

A spokesperson for the department says the nearby town of Heimdal has been evacuated.

 

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[CNJRoss]

NTSB news release:

 

NTSB Investigates Freight Train Accident in North Dakota

 

May 6, 2015

WASHINGTON - The National Transportation Safety Board is sending a team of railroad investigators to investigate today’s freight train derailment in Heimdal, N.D.

Several cars of a 109 car BNSF crude oil unit train derailed about 7:30 a.m. CT.  According to local authorities, no injuries have been reported at this time.

NTSB investigator Jim Southworth is leading the team as investigator-in-charge. Public Affairs Officer Keith Holloway will coordinate media-related activities from Washington, DC.

 

 

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BNSF Service Advisory:

To: All Impacted Customers

05/06/2015
 

Preliminary Report: Derailment at Heimdahl, North Dakota
 

On Wednesday, May 06, 2015 at 7:30 a.m. Central Time, we received a preliminary report that a train derailed at Heimdahl, North Dakota. Heimdahl, North Dakota is approximately 75 miles east of Minot, North Dakota.

BNSF personnel is currently on site to determine the impact. BNSF will continue to provide you with additional information as it becomes available. Customers may experience delays of 24 to 48 hours on shipments moving through this corridor.

 

[CNJRoss]

Flathead Beacon, Kalispell, MT, posted 5/6:
 

BNSF Oil Train Derails in North Dakota
Amtrak officials say derailment may delay Empire Builder through the Flathead Valley

 

A BNSF Railway oil train derailed and exploded early Wednesday morning in North Dakota. No one was injured in the wreck that happened about 50 miles east of Minot.

 

Amtrak officials tell the Flathead Beacon that the derailment did not occur on the route of the Empire Builder passenger train, which runs daily between Chicago and Portland-Seattle. However, freight trains being rerouted over the Empire Builder route in North Dakota could delay the passenger train in the coming days.

 

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[CNJRoss]

KVRR-TV, Fargo,ND, 5/6:
 

ND Gov. Dalrymple Calls Derailment Emergency Response "Outstanding"

 

HIEMDAL, N.D. -

Crews are still on scene after a BNSF oil train derailed early this morning in Hiemdal, North Dakota...about one hour north of Carrington in Wells County.

6 of the oil cars derailed and 4 were destroyed by fire, the cause is still unknown.

Local officials say they've been prepared for this type of situation.

Randi Suckut, Wells County Commissioner says: "We had a table top exercise where we tried to prepare for this exact situation because of what happened in Casselton,  .  .  .

 

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[CNJRoss]

BNSF media statements:

 

DATE: May 7, 2015 8:47:23 AM CDT

BNSF Media Statement on Heimdal, N.D. as of 7:30 a.m. CDT May 7

The fires involving yesterday’s derailed tank cars in Heimdal, ND have been extinguished. Local residents who were earlier evacuated from the area near the derailment were advised yesterday evening by local officials that it is safe to return to their homes. The BNSF team has removed a majority of the crude oil from the derailed tank cars. Upon completion of the NTSB’s investigation, the derailed cars will then be moved from the site and the remaining clean up and track repairs will begin.  

 

Local first responders remain on the scene as do BNSF personnel. BNSF team members will continue to assist first responders.

 

We are thankful there are no injuries and regret the inconvenience this incident has caused local residents. BNSF has established a Claims Center in the area to assist those who evacuated. 
 

BNSF Media Statement on Heimdal, N.D. as of 3:00 p.m. CDT May 6

At approximately 7:30 am CDT today, a BNSF train heading eastbound experienced a derailment of six tank cars at Heimdal, ND. The BNSF train consisted of 109 total cars – 107 cars loaded with crude oil and two buffer cars loaded with sand. There were no injuries. There is a fire at the scene involving the six derailed cars. All other cars have been pulled away from the scene to a safe distance. The tank cars involved in the incident are the unjacketed CPC-1232 models. Local first responders are on the scene as are BNSF personnel. BNSF team members will continue to assist first responders. 

 

We are thankful there are no injuries and regret the inconvenience this incident has caused local residents. BNSF has established a Claims Center in the area to assist those who evacuated.

 

BNSF is able to reroute eastbound and westbound Amtrak and BNSF freight traffic to maintain traffic flows.
 

BNSF Media Statement on Heimdal, N.D. as of 11:15 a.m. CDT May 6

At approximately 7:30 am CDT today, a train derailed at Heimdal, ND carrying crude oil. The train consisted of 109 total cars – 107 cars loaded with crude oil and two buffer cars loaded with sand. There are no injuries but there is a fire at the scene. The tank cars involved in the incident are the unjacketed CPC-1232 models. Local first responders are on the scene as are BNSF personnel. Additional BNSF personnel are en route. BNSF team members will continue to assist first responders.

 

BNSF Media Statement as of 9:30 am CDT on May 6, 2015

At approximately 7:30 am CDT today, a train operating approximately 50 miles east of Minot, ND derailed carrying crude oil. Initial reports from the crew indicate there are no injuries but a fire has been reported at the scene. The tank cars involved in the incident are the unjacketed CPC-1232 models. BNSF will work with the nearest first responders.

 

[CNJRoss]

Valley News Live, Fargo, ND, 5/7:
 

Is a broken tanker car wheel to blame for Heimdal derailment?

 

Sources confirm to Valley News Live that the wheel in this picture may be to blame for Wednesday's derailment in Heimdal North Dakota. The photo was sent to the Valley News Live newsroom by sources who wished to remain anonymous because they were not authorized to speak on the matter. Despite employee concerns, a BNSF spokesman would not confirm or deny the wheel in this picture is to blame for the crash nor would they confirm or deny that this wheel came from today's derailment. Another spokesperson reached by phone this evening said the broken wheel was a possibility that is being considered but nothing had been determined.

 

 

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[CNJRoss]

AP, 5/7:
 

Oil in North Dakota derailment was treated to cut volatility

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) -- A shipment of oil involved in an explosive train derailment in North Dakota had been treated to reduce its volatility - a move that state officials suggested could have reduced the severity of the accident but won't prevent others from occurring.

 

Hess Corporation spokesman John Roper said the oil complied with a state order requiring propane, butane and other volatile gases to be stripped out of crude before it's transported. That conditioning process lowers the vapor pressure of the oil, reducing the chances of an explosive ignition during a crash.

 

Despite the treatment of the crude in Wednesday's accident, six cars carrying a combined 180,000 gallons of oil caught fire in the derailment 2 miles from the town of small Heimdal in central North Dakota. The town was evacuated but no one was hurt.

 

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Note:  Article also has details released by NTSB.

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BNSF Customer Notification:
 

To: All Impacted Customers

05/08/2015

Final Report: Derailment at Heimdahl, North Dakota
 

On Wednesday, May 06, 2015 at 7:30 a.m. Central Time, we received a preliminary report that a train derailed at Heimdahl, North Dakota. Heimdahl, North Dakota is approximately 75 miles east of Minot, North Dakota. The track was returned to service at 7:35 a.m. Central Time on Friday May 8th, 2015.

Customers may experience delays of 24 to 36 hours on shipments moving through this corridor.