Evacuations ordered as train carrying crude oil derails, burns near Custer
Bellingham Herald, by Denver Pratt, December 22, 2020
A train derailed and caught fire in the Custer area Tuesday morning and residents and visitors within a half-mile were being evacuated, according to Whatcom County Public Works, the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office and Washington State Patrol.
The northbound train carrying crude oil derailed around 11:40 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 22, in the Custer area, according to Courtney Wallace, a Burlington Northern Santa Fe spokesperson, and the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office. It is a BNSF train and track, Wallace said.
The train derailed near the 7500 block of Portal Way, according to the sheriff’s office on Twitter. The sheriff’s office evacuated people within a half-mile of the derailment. Shortly before 5 p.m. Tuesday, the sheriff’s office said on Twitter that the evacuation order was lifted for local residents of Custer. Once residents return home, t
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A number of train cars caught fire after a derailment near Birch Bay, Wash., according to the Whatcom County sheriff s office, leading to a large evacuation of the area and closure of the I-5 highway on Tuesday afternoon.
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Train cars caught fire after a derailment near Birch Bay, according to the Whatcom County sheriff s office
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Posted: Dec 22, 2020 2:21 PM PT | Last Updated: December 23, 2020
A photo posted to Twitter by the Whatcom County sheriff s office shows a fire and huge plume of dark smoke near buildings and vehicles on Tuesday, following the derailment in Custer, Wash., of a BNSF train carrying crude oil.(Whatcom County Sheriff s Office)
Washington Dept. of Ecology
A train carrying crude oil derailed and caught fire in Whatcom County Tuesday morning, prompting officials to evacuate all nearby residents and businesses for several hours.
Reports that the train had derailed came in around 11:46 a.m., according to the Whatcom County Sheriff s Office, in the 7500 block of Portal Way in Custer, Wash., roughly 15 miles north of Bellingham along I-5.
Officials initially evacuated the area around the scene due to the toxicity of oil smoke, but lifted the order at approximately 4:44 p.m.
Seven cars derailed and two caught fire, BNSF Railway spokesperson Courtney Wallace said during a press conference Tuesday afternoon. A fire erupted toward the end of the train sending a plume of smoke into the air that could be seen for miles.
The accident occurred around 11:40 a.m.
BNSF Railway says seven tank cars derailed with two of them catching on fire.
“BNSF has responders on the scene working closely with public emergency responders and local authorities to mitigate the fire and protect public safety,” the company said. “There were no injuries to crew members on board the train.”
Everyone within a kilometre of Custer was asked to evacuate.
“The cause of this incident is under investigation. BNSF will coordinate with authorities as the investigation proceeds,” BNSF Railway said in a tweet. “Our thoughts are with those who have been affected by this incident.
Train carrying crude oil derails, catches fire in Whatcom County
(Image from WSDOT cameras)
Residents in Custer, Washington were asked to evacuate the area after a train carrying crude oil derailed around lunchtime on Tuesday.
Seven cars derailed in the 7500 block of Portal Way at 11:46 a.m. and a fire started in two of the derailed cars, according to BNSF. The fire is under control and the 3/4 mile evacuation was lifted about six hours later. See a map here.
Courtney Wallace, public information for BNSF, said the cause is under investigation.
Wallace said the train was about 108 cars long and was traveling northbound to the Phillips 66 Refinery in Ferndale. She did not know the origin on Tuesday. Two people were on board.