Train Derailment ..FL.. Sparks Brush Fire5.10.09

[refbasics]

cfnews13.com/News/Local/2009/5/10/train_derailment_in_palm_coast_sparks_brush_fire.html CLICK to see video



Train Derailment In Palm Coast Sparks Brush Fire
Sunday, May 10, 2009 9:06:22 PM


Train Derailment
PALM COAST -- A brush fire started after a train derailed Saturday evening has been contained, Flagler County officials said.

Crews on the scene in the area of Hargrove Grade, just west of U.S. Route 1, near the Palm Coast Parkway, continue to clear the tracks of 22 cars that derailed at around 6:45 p.m. Saturday.

The brush fire started by the derailment, and hydrochloric acid leaking from the cars, has been contained in a ditch next to the track.

Officials said there was no threat to any neighborhoods, because the derailment happened in an industrial park.
The cause of the derailment remains under investigation.
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MVHS better have a great evacuation plan!

[blankcheck]

One dead in fiery Rockford train derailment
June 20, 2009 7:55 AM | 3 Comments | UPDATED STORY

Tank cars loaded with thousands of gallons of highly flammable ethanol exploded in flames as a freight train derailed, killing one person and forcing evacuations of hundreds of nearby homes.

The cars continued burning this morning and officials said they would wait for the "very dangerous" inferno to burn out by itself.

Rockford Fire Chief Derek Bergsten said 74 of the train's 114 cars were filled with ethanol, or ethyl alcohol, but only a dozen of them were burning.

Officials evacuated the area on the edge of Rockford, about 80 miles northwest of Chicago, Friday night amid concerns about air pollution and the chance that more of the train's cars might catch fire.

Winnebago County Coroner Sue Fiduccia said early today the death was that of a female who was in a car waiting for the train to pass a crossing near the derailment site.

Bergsten said three other people ran from the car when it was bombarded with flying railroad ties and they were severely burned by flaming ethanol. They were taken to OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center in serious to critical condition, and one was transferred to Stroger Hospital in Chicago, he said.

Two crewmen on the eastbound Canadian National train escaped injury, said company spokesman Patrick Waldron. The engine crew was able to pull 64 cars away from the scene.

The cause of the derailment was still under investigation but witnesses told the Rockford Register-Star that cars on the Chicago-bound train began hydroplaning in standing water as it approached the crossing. Some of them left the tracks moments before two of them exploded.

Parts of northern Illinois may have gotten up to 4 inches of rain Friday, said meteorologist Gino Izzi of the National Weather Service. Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, 40 to 50 miles east of Rockford, measured 3.6 inches, a record for the date, he said.

Kirk Wilson, a fire chief in nearby Rockton, said he expected the ethanol to continue burning until later Saturday.

"We're letting the product burn itself out," he said. "We can't get too close to it. We're observing everything through binoculars from about 200 or 300 feet away."

"The situation is not under control, but we are making progress in getting it under control," said Wilson, whose department was one of at least 26 that went to the derailment scene. "It's very dangerous. It's very explosive. We're not risking any firefighters' lives."

Officials evacuated residents of about 600 homes within a half-mile of the derailment, Bergsten said. He said potentially toxic fumes should keep them out of their homes until environmental officials give them the green light to return.

"At first I thought it was a tornado because they always say a tornado sounds like a train coming," said Jeff Tilley, a Register-Star employee who lives near the scene of the derailment.

Alicia Zatkowski, a spokeswoman for ComEd, said the derailment knocked out power to about 1,000 of the Chicago-based utility's Rockford-area customers.

The derailment was being investigated by Canadian National and the Federal Railroad Administration. Members of the National Transportation Safety Board were en route early Saturday.

-- Associated Press

[doctorwho]

Jun 20, 2009 7:11:27 GMT -6 blankcheck said:

One dead in fiery Rockford train derailment
June 20, 2009 7:55 AM | 3 Comments | UPDATED STORY

Tank cars loaded with thousands of gallons of highly flammable ethanol exploded in flames as a freight train derailed, killing one person and forcing evacuations of hundreds of nearby homes.

The cars continued burning this morning and officials said they would wait for the "very dangerous" inferno to burn out by itself.

Rockford Fire Chief Derek Bergsten said 74 of the train's 114 cars were filled with ethanol, or ethyl alcohol, but only a dozen of them were burning.

Officials evacuated the area on the edge of Rockford, about 80 miles northwest of Chicago, Friday night amid concerns about air pollution and the chance that more of the train's cars might catch fire.

Winnebago County Coroner Sue Fiduccia said early today the death was that of a female who was in a car waiting for the train to pass a crossing near the derailment site.

Bergsten said three other people ran from the car when it was bombarded with flying railroad ties and they were severely burned by flaming ethanol. They were taken to OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center in serious to critical condition, and one was transferred to Stroger Hospital in Chicago, he said.

Two crewmen on the eastbound Canadian National train escaped injury, said company spokesman Patrick Waldron. The engine crew was able to pull 64 cars away from the scene.

The cause of the derailment was still under investigation but witnesses told the Rockford Register-Star that cars on the Chicago-bound train began hydroplaning in standing water as it approached the crossing. Some of them left the tracks moments before two of them exploded.

Parts of northern Illinois may have gotten up to 4 inches of rain Friday, said meteorologist Gino Izzi of the National Weather Service. Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, 40 to 50 miles east of Rockford, measured 3.6 inches, a record for the date, he said.

Kirk Wilson, a fire chief in nearby Rockton, said he expected the ethanol to continue burning until later Saturday.

"We're letting the product burn itself out," he said. "We can't get too close to it. We're observing everything through binoculars from about 200 or 300 feet away."

"The situation is not under control, but we are making progress in getting it under control," said Wilson, whose department was one of at least 26 that went to the derailment scene. "It's very dangerous. It's very explosive. We're not risking any firefighters' lives."

Officials evacuated residents of about 600 homes within a half-mile of the derailment, Bergsten said. He said potentially toxic fumes should keep them out of their homes until environmental officials give them the green light to return.

"At first I thought it was a tornado because they always say a tornado sounds like a train coming," said Jeff Tilley, a Register-Star employee who lives near the scene of the derailment.

Alicia Zatkowski, a spokeswoman for ComEd, said the derailment knocked out power to about 1,000 of the Chicago-based utility's Rockford-area customers.

The derailment was being investigated by Canadian National and the Federal Railroad Administration. Members of the National Transportation Safety Board were en route early Saturday.

-- Associated Press

www.suntimes.com/news/metro/1632033,w-rockford-derailment-train-blow-up-062009.article

video

[doctorwho]

May 11, 2009 9:22:27 GMT -6 refbasics said:

cfnews13.com/News/Local/2009/5/10/train_derailment_in_palm_coast_sparks_brush_fire.html CLICK to see video



Train Derailment In Palm Coast Sparks Brush Fire
Sunday, May 10, 2009 9:06:22 PM


Train Derailment
PALM COAST -- A brush fire started after a train derailed Saturday evening has been contained, Flagler County officials said.

Crews on the scene in the area of Hargrove Grade, just west of U.S. Route 1, near the Palm Coast Parkway, continue to clear the tracks of 22 cars that derailed at around 6:45 p.m. Saturday.

The brush fire started by the derailment, and hydrochloric acid leaking from the cars, has been contained in a ditch next to the track.

Officials said there was no threat to any neighborhoods, because the derailment happened in an industrial park.
The cause of the derailment remains under investigation.
-----------------
MVHS better have a great evacuation plan!

let's hope those plans don't involve cell phone notice - as the kids won't have any...

[mvmom2b]

It's just not MV that would be in danger. For well over 10 years we have had schools within walking distance of the EJ&E tracks and the Eola yard and no one seemed to care. Now that MV comes along all the sudden it's a big issue.

Why wasn't this community upset when they built Granger MS, Gwendolyn Brooks and Nancy Young. And let's not forget Indian Plains HS has been there for well over 25 years. GB and GMS are just on the opposite side of the tracks from NYE. We also have White Eagle ES that is right near tracks. Who knows how many more that are within a mile or of the tracks that run right through this district like Longwood and Brookdale.

Please don't turn this around as if MV is the only school in jeopardy of an incident like this. This community needs to move on. In case you have been spending more time digging up useless numbers and stats on 204, you ought to know that North Korea is a bigger threat to us right now than any pipeline or derailment. Time to check out what is going on beyond the boundary lines of 204.

Have a great day!

[sashimi]

Have a great day? How can I now that you have me all freaked out about North Korea!

[Arch]

mvmom2b,

There were people who cared, they too were ignored, just like everyone and anyone who brings up a point that is deemed a hindrance to 'the plan'.

Fear Not, M2 has a secret magic card in his deck that ensures nothing bad will ever happen despite the proximity to things that children shouldn't be around.

[doctorwho]

Jun 20, 2009 9:01:11 GMT -6 mvmom2b said:

It's just not MV that would be in danger. For well over 10 years we have had schools within walking distance of the EJ&E tracks and the Eola yard and no one seemed to care. Now that MV comes along all the sudden it's a big issue.

Why wasn't this community upset when they built Granger MS, Gwendolyn Brooks and Nancy Young. And let's not forget Indian Plains HS has been there for well over 25 years. GB and GMS are just on the opposite side of the tracks from NYE. We also have White Eagle ES that is right near tracks. Who knows how many more that are within a mile or of the tracks that run right through this district like Longwood and Brookdale.

Please don't turn this around as if MV is the only school in jeopardy of an incident like this. This community needs to move on. In case you have been spending more time digging up useless numbers and stats on 204, you ought to know that North Korea is a bigger threat to us right now than any pipeline or derailment. Time to check out what is going on beyond the boundary lines of 204.

Have a great day!

There's a difference between moving on and sticking ones head in the sand - you obviously have chosen the latter. Do ANY of the other schools you mention have 3 - 36" gas mains within the explosion zone ? NO. Not to mention the peaker plants and other various hazards too numerous to mention.

Why did they move Peterson for far less risks than MVHS ? Beause common sense prevailed. Why did they choose BB in the first place and strke AME from the list ?

If you want to stick your head in the sand and not see the exponential issues because of the gas mains on top of everything else- that's your call - I have chosen not to - so I am not going to move on ( code for sit down and shut up) and niether are others. You obviously felt paying $10M+ to expedite a school was more important than making it safer.

I pray the risk never comes true - I am not willing to take that risk - and no one EVER should say they didn't know of the dangers - you have chosen to ignore instead. Your call.

AS far as north Korea - nice red herring -- We had a chance to control the risk @ MV and chose not too - no one on this board can control North Korea.

[researching]

Jun 20, 2009 9:01:11 GMT -6 mvmom2b said:

It's just not MV that would be in danger. For well over 10 years we have had schools within walking distance of the EJ&E tracks and the Eola yard and no one seemed to care. Now that MV comes along all the sudden it's a big issue.

Why wasn't this community upset when they built Granger MS, Gwendolyn Brooks and Nancy Young. And let's not forget Indian Plains HS has been there for well over 25 years. GB and GMS are just on the opposite side of the tracks from NYE. We also have White Eagle ES that is right near tracks. Who knows how many more that are within a mile or of the tracks that run right through this district like Longwood and Brookdale.

Please don't turn this around as if MV is the only school in jeopardy of an incident like this. This community needs to move on. In case you have been spending more time digging up useless numbers and stats on 204, you ought to know that North Korea is a bigger threat to us right now than any pipeline or derailment. Time to check out what is going on beyond the boundary lines of 204.

Have a great day!

The train tracks are just ONE concern. While the train tracks (are there 2, 3 or 4?) are definitely a large concern they are nowhere near the hazards that the gas pipelines and incomplete EPA testing pose. While a train derailment is extremely serious, a gas pipeline explosion is basically instant death to anyone in as close proximity as MV.

Honestly, bury your head in the sand if you would like but please do not try to gloss over the reality of MV's poor location by debating just ONE issue.

BTW - Nice try with the whole North Korea reference. While that threat is real, that fact does not make the potential dangers of the MV site any less.

[Arch]

The sad part is that anyone who is determined can breach the pipelines in less than 60-90 seconds. A fact that is documented by the US Navy in a postmortem analysis of pipeline terrorism overseas for the past 6 years.

There are also effective countermeasures as well, but the SB in their infinite wisdom wants no part of any of it.

Not my problem anymore....

[kidsfirst]

Jun 20, 2009 12:11:28 GMT -6 doctorwho said:

Why did they move Peterson for far less risks than MVHS ?

They moved Peterson? That looks awfully close to the tracks to me.

[casey]

Jun 21, 2009 6:39:54 GMT -6 kidsfirst said:

Jun 20, 2009 12:11:28 GMT -6 doctorwho said:

Why did they move Peterson for far less risks than MVHS ?

They moved Peterson? That looks awfully close to the tracks to me.

Actually, I'm pretty sure that Dr.Who meant Patterson. Patterson (in Ashbury) was moved from a power line location to its current location away from the power lines.

I agree though, Peterson Elementary is pretty darn close to the tracks.

[doctorwho]

Jun 21, 2009 7:49:45 GMT -6 casey said:

Jun 21, 2009 6:39:54 GMT -6 kidsfirst said:

They moved Peterson? That looks awfully close to the tracks to me.

Actually, I'm pretty sure that Dr.Who meant Patterson. Patterson (in Ashbury) was moved from a power line location to its current location away from the power lines.

I agree though, Peterson Elementary is pretty darn close to the tracks.

I did mean PAtterson, thanks Casey

[doctorwho]

Jun 21, 2009 6:39:54 GMT -6 kidsfirst said:

Jun 20, 2009 12:11:28 GMT -6 doctorwho said:

Why did they move Peterson for far less risks than MVHS ?

They moved Peterson? That looks awfully close to the tracks to me.

I did mean Patterson - away from the electrical wires -- sorry for typo.
Also the point is to minimize risk not MAXIMIZE them as they have done @ the MVHS site. They really missed nothing in the way of risks except maybe a landfill

[casey]

But don't worry, it will be a beautiful school and many are now getting "their" Neuqua. Makes sense, right ?