Cargo Business Newswire

Monday, March 9, 2015

Oil train derails and catches fire in Northern Illinois

A BNSF freight train hauling crude oil derailed in northern Illinois on Thursday (March 6), bursting into flames, prompting officials to suggest that everyone with one mile evacuate, according to authorities.

Firefighters attempted to fight the fire but had to pull back for safety reason and leave the fire to burn itself out, fire officials said. In addition to Galena firefighters, emergency and hazardous material responders from Iowa and Wisconsin were at the scene.

The BNSF Railway train derailed about 1:05 p.m. in a rural area where the Galena River meets the Mississippi, according to company spokesman Andy Williams.

The train had 103 cars loaded with crude oil, along with two buffer cars loaded with sand. A cause for the derailment is unknown. No injuries were reported.

For more of the Chicago Sun Times story: chicago.suntimes.com