A Union Pacific train traveling in North Texas derailed on Tuesday afternoon.
The train was around two miles east of Gordon in Palo Pinto County when nearly three dozen cars jumped the track, with sparks from the derailment causing nearby grass to catch on fire. Despite carrying potentially hazardous chemicals, none of the cars leaked, says Kent Farquhar, assistant fire chief for Palo Pinto County Emergency Services District 1.
Farquhar told WFAA there were “Lots of reasons to be thankful.”
“Derailments are always very fluid. You never know what’s going to happen. They could be stable one moment and unstable the next.”
The incident occurred around 2 p.m. on Tuesday near the intersection of Coalville Road and Highway 193, near Interstate 20, just under 100 miles east of Dallas.
The first crews to respond to the derailment identified cars containing hydrochloric acid, propane, and fuel, according to Farquahr.
“Two dangerous chemicals – one flammable and one caustic,” he said.
Once the cars were confirmed not to be leaking, the crews turned their attention to fighting the fires started by the derailment.
“The fires weren’t that big, but we didn’t want to take any chances,” Farquhar said.
Despite the small blazes, some fires continued to flare up further away even hours later. However, the incident did not prompt calls for evacuations.
While two firefighters experienced issues because of the heat, none needed to be taken to the hospital.
Later that evening, around 9 p.m., heavy equipment was brought in to prepare for the removal of the rail cars from the track. The cleanup is expected to take several days.
So far, no cause for the derailment has been provided.
Around two months ago, The Dallas Express reported on another Union Pacific derailment in North Texas. On June 9, several train cars came off the tracks in Downtown Waxahachie just before midnight. While no injuries were reported, the incident startled nearby residents and led to road closures and a complex cleanup operation.
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