(Tiskilwa, Illinois – October 7, 2011)
The early morning derailment of 26 cars of a 131-car Iowa Interstate Railroad freight train near the small Bureau County community of Tiskilwa, IL Friday resulted in fires, explosions and evacuation of nearby resident. The evacuations were prompted due to the potential volatility of the Ethanol in seven or eight of the derailed cars.
Reportedly, 60 of the tank cars, being transported for Archer-Daniels-Midland in Decatur, IL, contained the highly flammable substance, and efforts were being made to uncouple and remove the undamaged cars from the wreck area. Residents described explosions and towering flames from the site, where the cars were stacked like cordwood, making access to the burning cars difficult for firefighters. Emergency services from nearly 30 communities and agencies responded to the scene to provide assistance.
