Train Derails in Minnesota, Catching Fire and Forcing Evacuations in Small Town

On Thursday morning, a train carrying “a type of ethanol” and “a corn syrup liquid” derailed and caught fire, leading to the evacuation of a Minnesota town outside Minneapolis, according to police reports. Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railway stated that its train derailed near Raymond around 1 a.m. local time, and no injuries were reported. “A form of ethanol and others with a corn syrup liquid” were found on several of the derailed tankers that began to ignite, according to the Kandiyohi County Sheriff’s Office’s statement. As a result, a “half-mile evacuation zone was established around the crash site, and law enforcement officers and other EMS helped with the evacuation,” the statement added. “Central Minnesota Christian School building” in nearby Prinsburg, Minnesota,cwas identified as an emergency collection site for evacuees with no place to go

According to census data, Raymond has a population of around 780 people. About 22 rail cars, including ethanol and corn syrup, derailed, according to BNSF (mix freight). The main track is obstructed, and there is no estimate of when it will reopen. Still, BNSF field personnel are working at the scene and will closely collaborate with local first responders to evaluate the derailment site. The cause of the derailment remains unknown currently.

Wednesday’s derailment of a Canadian National Railway Company train near Pittsburgh, which contained iron ore, did not hurt anyone or cause any fires, according to a statement made to FOX Business. Investigating the cause is also in progress. On Sunday, a Canadian Pacific train derailed in a Chicago suburb, however, only one of the damaged cars was carrying wheat, and there were no casualties or fires, according to a statement. According to Tyler Verschelden, a witness, the train was wobbling and produced loud noises and crashing sounds.