Major train derailment and fire in western Minnesota, residents evacuated -

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Raymond Minnesota: Authorities received word that the train derailed around 1 a.m. Thursday. A freight train carrying ethanol and corn syrup derailed and caught fire in western Minnesota early Thursday morning, sparking an emergency alert and local evacuation in the City of Raymond. The Kandiyohi County Sheriff’s Office said more than a dozen BNSF train cars went off the tracks around 1 a.m. in Raymond.

Residents living in the vicinity received text alerts advising them to evacuate to a nearby school, while a no-travel advisory is in place in the area, and Highway 23 is closed throughout the city. Fire departments were called to the scene following the derailment, as several of the tanker cars “started on fire,” with images shared by residents showing a large blaze.

An emergency collection site for evacuated residents was established at the Central Minnesota Christian School building in Prinsburg, Minnesota. Another site was later opened at Unity Church in Prinsburg. A firefighter’s wife said on Facebook that bottled water and snacks are welcome to be donated for the fire crews at the church. The site remains active in the later morning hours of Thursday, authorities said.

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg said “no injuries or fatalities have been reported” as of 6 a.m. “FRA is on the ground after a BNSF train carrying ethanol derailed early this morning, leading to an evacuation in the area of Raymond, MN. At present no injuries or fatalities have been reported,” he said on Twitter. “We are tracking closely as more details emerge and will be involved in [investigation].”

This is the latest in a recent series of major train derailments in the United States, most notably the derailment in East Palestine, Ohio that spilled toxic chemicals into the Ohio River. It has led to rising concerns for rail safety and a debate about government deregulation and past industry efforts to limit safety requirements, as The Guardian reports. The derailment is under investigation. An update from the sheriff’s office is expected later Thursday. Twin Cities media outlet Racket MN recently spoke with railroad workers in Minnesota, who expressed concerns about track integrity and the impact of industry cuts on maintenance. (source)