Officials in Maryville, Tenn. are now saying the evacuation is expected to last at least until Friday, after the derailment of the CSX train carrying a flammable and toxic substance caught fire.
The fire department said the call about the train derailment came in about 11:50 p.m. Wednesday night EST. It was reported initially that there were no injuries in the incident, although six or seven police officers had to undergo decontamination, according to Blount County Fire Department Lt. Johnny Leatherwood.
CSX regional vice-president Craig Camuso, said they received the report about the one car that derailed and caught fire near Old Mt. Tabor Road, off Highway 321, just west of the Foothills Mall, around midnight.
Camuso added that the train consisted of 57 cars, including 27 cars that were carrying hazardous material. Nine of those cars were carrying Acrylonitrile. The other cars in the train were carrying asphalt and propane.
The one car that derailed and caught fire, contained Acrylonitrile, a highly flammable and very poisonous liquid. The chemical is used in manufacturing acrylic and modacrylic fibers, such as Legos, kitchenware, boots, and tracksuits. The chemical is known to cause mucous membrane irritation, headaches, dizziness, and nausea.
CSX praised the first responders, and said they were working with officials in dealing with the aftereffects of the derailment. They have set up water and air monitoring for the area. CNN is reporting that 43 percent of the residents in the area use wells for drinking water. Everyone is being advised to not drink the water until tests show it is safe.
At a news conference Thursday, Maryville City Manager Greg McClain said that CSX is supplying bottled water to residents and that there’s no indication yet whether well water has been affected by the incident.
Update on injuries due to accident
Blount County Memorial Hospital spokesperson Josh West told local news station, WBIR.com they have treated 30 people for respiratory problems resulting from the accident, including 10 emergency responders who were complaining of burning eyes after the fire. Nine people have been admitted to the hospital, and 21 people are still being evaluated in the ER.
Anyone experiencing difficulty breathing is advised to seek medical attention immediately. For residents with pets, WBIR is saying that the Blount County Animal Shelter at 233 Curie Avenue in Maryville will feed and take care of the pets until the emergency is over.