Officials inspect the aftermath of an oil train fire in Custer, Washington, on Dec. 24. Credit: courtesy Lummi Nation Department of Natural Resources
What led to Whatcom oil-train disaster? Investigators eye equipment, tracks, even sabotage By
at 7:24 pm
Even though an oil train derailed and burned for hours that day, government officials and oil-industry critics alike say the Puget Sound region got lucky on December 22.
The mile-long train full of fossil fuel happened to spill near two refineries with specialized firefighting brigades and far from any population centers, shorelines or salmon streams.
No one was injured when the 108-car train derailed in the small town of Custer, Wash., north of Bellingham. But about one tanker carâs worth of crude oil â 29,000 gallons â was lost, either up in smoke or spilled on the ground.