Cameron, Texas
A BNSF Railway Company train carrying products including coal and gasoline to Houston in Texas was still burning on Wednesday, a day after it collided with a truck near Cameron, causing an explosion in gasoline-carrying carriages.
BNSF, owned by Berkshire Hathaway Inc and one of the largest railroad operators in North America, had said on Tuesday that 13 of the train’s 110 carriages were derailed, with five of those carrying gasoline.
Five other carriages carrying non-hazardous loads were also on fire, the company added, forcing an evacuation of the surrounding area.
“Local first responders and BNSF personnel are still on site, working to completely extinguish the flames,” BNSF, one of the largest railroad operators in North America, said in a statement.
The train crew and truck driver were not injured, BNSF said, adding it would assess the damage and plan a clean-up once the fire was fully doused.
The fire is expected to be extinguished on Wednesday, the Cameron fire department said.
“It’s not completely out, we’re still putting water on it,” said fire department chief Henry Horelica.
The accident is the second incident since 10 BNSF Railway carriages carrying crude oil derailed, with three catching fire, in Custer, Washington, in late December.
The Texas-based company did not respond to a request for further comment and it was not immediately clear what companies would be affected by the delay in shipments.
BNSF is one of the largest U.S. coal carriers. The region is already contending with an unprecedented power crisis caused by brutal cold weather and any fuel delays could further pressure the state’s electricity grid operator, which uses natural gas, coal and other fuels to power generators.—Reuters
