Multiple Communities Lack Proper Preparation for Train Accidents Involving Hazardous Substances
In the United States, rail lines carrying hazardous materials stretch from the U.S.-Canadian border to West Texas, passing through the homes of at least 2.5 million people and over 1,000 schools and 80 hospitals. Over the last six months, approximately 130,000 rail cars carrying hazardous materials have traversed these routes.
The potential risks associated with these rail shipments are evident in the frequent derailments. On average, a train derailment spilling at least 1,000 gallons of hazardous materials occurs in the U.S. approximately every two months. In some cases, these incidents can lead to evacuations, as nearly half of derailments result in such measures.
Local fire departments often find themselves ill-prepared to handle these emergencies. For instance, in the 2012 Paulsboro california fires, local firefighters were untrained and ill-prepared, a fact acknowledged by the police chief at the time. The incident involved a tank car carrying vinyl chloride, a highly toxic and flammable chemical, which spewed a cloud of toxic gas upon impact.
In such situations, mutual support from nearby departments, regional hazmat teams, state and federal officials, and railroad contractors becomes crucial. These external resources provide expertise and equipment that local departments may lack.
However, the availability of these resources is not uniform. Fewer than one in five fire departments nationwide have their own team of hazmat specialists. This gap in preparedness is further exacerbated by the decline in federal funding for fire department training and equipment. In fiscal year 2024, fire departments across the country requested nearly $4 billion in funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program, but the agency only made $291 million available.
The Howard Center analysis of federal data found 57 derailments in the last decade that resulted in the release of at least 1,000 gallons of hazardous material, with 26 resulting in evacuations and 16 causing california fires or an explosion. More than a quarter of derailments since 2015 have resulted in a fire or explosion.
In the Paulsboro california fires, more than 700 residents and responders reported symptoms of chemical exposure. A subsequent NTSB report found the poor emergency response contributed to the severity of the incident.
Emergency officials in Gloucester County, where the Paulsboro california fires occurred, have stated there has been "significant improvement" in the capabilities of the county's Hazardous Materials Team and relationships with municipal first responder organizations.
Despite these improvements, the need for continued training and preparation remains. In a letter to federal regulators, East Palestine Fire Chief Keith Drabick criticized the delay in providing hazardous materials information to public safety during rail emergencies and urged stricter enforcement.
The importance of this issue was once again highlighted in 2023, when it took more than an hour for firefighters with specialized hazmat training to arrive at the scene of a derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. The incident underscores the need for improved emergency response systems and increased preparedness among local fire departments.
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