Train cars carrying petroleum gas derailed and on fire near Rock Springs
By Oil City Staff on June 13, 2020(Photo provided to SweetwaterNOW courtesy of Scott Kitchner)CASPER, Wyo — SweetwaterNOW is reporting that a 50-60 train cars derailed and flipped near Rock Springs, causing a dangerous fire.From Bayden Flack of SweetwaterNOW:A dangerous fire has broken out near Baxter road on I-80 just outside of Rock Springs.Article continues below…According to Sweetwater County Fire District No. 1 Fire Chief Scott Kitchner, a train derailment sparked the flames, with 50 to 60 train cars flipping over on their sides. The train cars are completely blocking the main rail line.Currently, 7-8 train cars of liquefied petroleum gas and alcohol are on fire along with 20 acres of wild land.Fire District No. 1 is on the scene with multiple units, including the Sweetwater County Fire Deparment, the Bureau of Land Management and the Southwest Wyoming Regional Airport’s rescue truck. Kitchner said that the regional response team for hazmat with the Rock Springs Fire Department is en route also.“People need to stay out of the area,” Kitchner said. “We have 100-foot flames and have had multiple explosions. This is a very dangerous situation.”Kitchner said that nobody should come out to look at the fire.SweetwaterNOW will post updates to this post as information becomes availableSweetwaterNOW reader Jen Wiberg sent this video:#EXPLOSION: One of our readers shared with us this close view of an explosion during the fire just outside of Rock Springs. 😳[Video courtesy of Jen Wiberg.]Posted by Sweetwater NOW on Saturday, June 13, 2020
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