Excerpts from a Daily Herald article:
Amid rising concerns over the increasing number of oil trains and recent high-profile incidents involving explosions and environmental spills across the U.S., suburban fire departments are now more focused on preparedness than ever before.
Firefighters interviewed for this series by the Daily Herald emphasized that they engage in regular training and have mutual aid agreements in place to handle worst-case scenarios. However, despite these efforts, officials warn that unexpected events can still pose serious challenges.
This isn’t just a hypothetical concern. In Glen Ellyn, a 1976 derailment involving ammonia led to a major evacuation and left 14 people injured. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers that come with transporting hazardous materials through residential areas.
According to records, the Daily Herald reviewed 15½ years of hazmat reports related to train incidents and found 345 occurrences in the metropolitan region. Firefighters may face a wide range of dangerous substances daily, including toxic chemicals like hydrochloric acid, ammonia, and xylene, as well as highly flammable liquids such as ethanol and Bakken crude oil.
Aurora, one of Illinois’ largest cities, has around 195 firefighters, with about 30 trained hazmat specialists on staff. This highlights the growing need for specialized personnel to manage potential emergencies involving hazardous materials.
Union Pacific has been actively involved in training emergency responders. In 2014 alone, the railroad trained 314 first-responders on crude oil safety. Similarly, BNSF reported training 8,619 responders this year, offering hands-on sessions at local fire departments along its rail lines.
Despite these efforts, there are still concerns about the safety of older tank cars. The Federal Railroad Administration is considering phasing out older DOT-111 models within two years, but critics argue the policy is too limited, only applying to trains with 20 or more high-hazard flammable cars.
Krestan from Lisle-Woodridge expressed worry about the potential impact of an accident involving Bakken crude oil. “If we had a spill in our central business district, it could have long-term consequences for the community,†he said.
The American Association of Railroads supports modernized, more durable tank cars, but many firefighters believe more needs to be done to ensure public safety.
Glen Ellyn Volunteer Fire Company Chief Jim Bodony is particularly concerned about trains carrying ethanol or crude oil that sit idle on tracks for extended periods. He knows that these trains pass through his town frequently, and the risks are real.
The 1976 derailment serves as a painful memory. A train derailed early on May 16 after hitting another freight train near Glen Ellyn, spilling ammonia and injuring 14 people. Parts of the town were evacuated, and the chemical entered the sewer system, polluting Lake Ellyn and killing fish.
Barrington Fire Chief Jim Arie believes that having real-time access to the contents of a train would significantly improve response times. Currently, first-responders rely on paper manifests, which he finds impractical. He advocates for electronic access to train cargo information, a feature that has yet to be fully implemented.
CN’s Waldron mentioned that their police communications center can email or fax train manifests during emergencies. Additionally, CN offers a mobile app that provides near-real-time data on hazardous material shipments, helping emergency personnel make informed decisions quickly.
BNSF’s Butler also highlighted their emergency hotline, allowing firefighters to access critical information during a crisis.
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