Another crude oil train derails and bursts into flames

Another train carrying crude oil has derailed and burst into flames. This time it was in a rural area near the community of Plaster Rock, New Brunswick, about 20 miles north of the Canada border with Maine.

About 150 residents were evacuated from their homes after 17 rail cars derailed on Tuesday, Jan. 7, around 7 p.m. Five of the derailed cars were carrying crude oil and four were carrying liquid petroleum gas, according to Canadian National Railway officials.

Two tanker cars were carrying crude oil from northern Alberta and three were carrying crude oil from southwestern Manitoba. They were headed to an oil refinery in Saint John, New Brunswick.

Preliminary information from the Canada Transportation Board indicated the train’s brakes engaged on their own, and a broken axle was discovered.

Officials said there were no injuries and minimal damage to the environment, but residents were evacuated from a 2-kilometer radius. The village of Plaster Rock is about three miles from the scene of the derailment.