A Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) freight train transporting extremely volatile Bakken crude oil derailed today near Custer, Whatcom County, causing a fire and prompting authorities to ask nearby residents to evacuate as a precaution.
There were no fatalities and no injuries were reported, though the derailment did result in an oil spill. Seven tank cars went off the tracks, with two catching fire, about twenty minutes before noon. Firefighters responded and had the conflagration mostly contained by 3 PM in the afternoon, though evacuation orders were not lifted until an hour and forty-five minutes later.
Custer is located about halfway between Blaine and Ferndale, which are both north of Bellingham and the Lummi Reservation.
The derailment occurred not far from Interstate 5’s Zell Road exit, and the highway was temporarily closed by the Washington State Patrol while the blaze was being brought under control. I‑5 was subsequently reopened.
My Ferndale News, which was present at a press conference called by the authorities after the incident occurred, reported that the following details were shared regarding the oil train and its derailment:
It is fortunate that was no loss of life or significant property damage in this incident. But there easily could have been. The dangers of oil trains are well known, yet they continue to pass through communities all over the Pacific Northwest and beyond. The grave risk to people, animals, and property from the transport of dirty fossil fuels can only be eliminated by phasing out coal, oil, and gas. Climate action is thus not only socially and morally responsible, it is necessary to get rid of a threat to the safety of our neighborhoods.
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