'Code Red Alert' issued, evacuations ordered after fire at site of derailed train

WHAS 11 ^ | October 31, 2012 | staff

[Stonewall Jackson]

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WHAS11) -- There has been a fire at the site of the massive train derailment. An evacuation has been ordered for anyone who lives within 1.2 miles of the fire. Highway 44 is outside the evacuation area.

We are told five people have been injured. Two people have refused treatment and three are reportedly more seriously injured. We are told one is in critical condition, another is in serious condition and one is in fair condition.

The injured workers suffered second and third degree burns.

A firefighter on the scene tells WHAS11 there were some workers who were using cutting torches and "the arc flashed" causing a spark. Workers were repairing the tracks damage by the derailment as a scheduled plan to be able to get the damage cars out.

As of 2:30, the Ohio River has been closed near that area to traffic.

As of 3:20, the fire is contained and fre crews are letting it burn itself out.

There is a five mile "Shelter In Place Warning" radius that has been issued around the scene. There are no evacuation orders being issued at this time.

A "code red alert" has been issed to people in a five mile radius of this fire. That means they've been asked to stay inside their homes or business, close windows and bring pets inside.

A doctor on the air with WHAS says butadiene can cause respiratory problems. WHAS11 has learned area hospitals were put on standby early Wednesday as a precaution because train cars containing dangerous chemicals were going to be moved.

Schools have also been affected by the derailment. Nichols Elementary School is under "shelter in place" until further notice. According to Bullitt Schools, this is purely a precautionary measure based on the advice of Bullitt County Emergency Management. They say schools however will be dismissing on time.

In the JCPS district, Watson Lane Elementary School dismissed early at 1:30pm Monday afternoon. Students will be transported to Valley High School for pick-up. Also, there will be no after school activities at Frost Middle School.

On Monday, 11 of 57 cars on that Paducah and Louisville Railroad train went off the tracks. One of them leaked butadine-a highly flammable chemical.

The spill was contained Monday afternoon and hazmat crews handed operations over to private cleanup crews that evening. EMA officials could not trace an active leak by nighttime.

"We're getting zeros at all the air monitors deployed," Doug Hamilton, Jefferson County EMA said Monday. Dozens of homes were evacuated and residents within a two mile radius were told to stay indoors.

[Stonewall Jackson]

There were plans to reopen Highway 31W this evening, but now safety officials are saying that it will likely be another day or two before this can happen.

BTW, the Knob Creek Gun Range is located about two miles from the accident site. They are outside of the evacuation zone, but are inside of the "shelter in place" radius, so I'm not sure if they are still open.

[Stonewall Jackson]

Here’s even more trouble for the folks in Southwest Jefferson County and Northwest Bullitt County. The “Shelter in Place” radius reaches parts of Meade and Hardin Counties as well.

[Stonewall Jackson]

Portions of the Kentucky National Guard have been called in to assist with this dangerous situation and the entire town of West Point has been evacuated.

[SomeCallMeTim]

Butadiene is NOT their concern... it’s relatively harmless compared to the two white/red cars next to the fire...

they’re now saying those are Hydrogen Flouride cars.. That’s better than Hydrogen Cyanide... but, still pretty nasty stuff.

I’ll feel a LOT better when they get that fire extinguished.

[Stonewall Jackson]

I have several friends who live within the evacuation zone and others who are inside the “shelter in place” radius. Quite troublesome.

[MasonGal]

I’m in southern Indiana - right across from this area...and my son works in that area - Radcliff..

[Stonewall Jackson]

I’m down near Radcliff and we’re a little south of the evacuation and shelter in place zones, but we’re keeping a close eye just in case those other tankers start to go off.

[MasonGal]

Stay safe...

[cuban leaf]

Same here. Radcliff/Fort Knox

[Bratch]

Evacuation area

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SHELTER IN PLACE WARNING
KENTUCKY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY LOUISVILLE KENTUCKY
RELAYED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY
214 PM EDT WED OCT 31 2012
THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE IS TRANSMITTED AT THE REQUEST OF THE
KENTUCKY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY AND METROSAFE IN LOUISVILLE
KENTUCKY.

LOUISVILLE METROSAFE ASKS THAT PEOPLE LIVING WITHIN A FIVE MILE
RADIUS OF DIXIE HIGHWAY AND KATHERINE STATION ROAD SHELTER IN
PLACE UNTIL THE ALL CLEAR IS GIVEN. AN EXPLOSION OCCURRED EARLIER
THIS AFTERNOON AT THE TRAIN DERAILMENT SITE. TO SHELTER IN
PLACE...CLOSE ALL DOORS AND WINDOWS AND TURN OFF ANY SYSTEM THAT
PULLS IN OUTSIDE AIR. STAY TUNED FOR UPDATES.

[SomeCallMeTim]

From the looks of things.. they should not be in any danger. It LOOKS as if, just a little remaining Butadiene is burning off.. that’s NOT big deal.

The risk is.... the two Hydrogen Flouride cars that are nearby, damaged.. but, apparently... not leaking.

I think, the risk to people is VERY low.. but, until the fire is actually OUT.. it’s prudent to stay away.

[skinkinthegrass]

thxs, Stonewall Jackson.A Kentucky Ping.

...for those interested. :D

[KYGrandma]

Thanks for the heads up. We are in the middle of constructing a new kitchen and haven’t had the tv or radio on.