Railway car carrying hazardous material derails in North Dakota

On Friday, a significant incident occurred as twenty-nine rail cars of a CPKC train derailed in a remote area of North Dakota. The incident took place around 3:45 a.m. in an area surrounded by farmland, approximately 140 miles (225 kilometers) northwest of Fargo. Andrew Kirking, emergency management director for Foster County, reported that the cars were carrying anhydrous ammonia, sulfur, and methanol, posing a potential threat to nearby residents.

Bill Suess, spill investigation program manager for the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality, identified the potential risks associated with the derailment. Although the ammonia was deemed the biggest risk, the wind direction was favorable, carrying the smoke away from the nearby town of Bordulac, which is home to around 20 residents. Suess stated, "Wind has been in our favor on this. That risk has greatly subsided. Still there — as long as fires are burning."

Emergency response officials are aware of the dangers posed by exposure to high concentrations of ammonia in the air, which can cause severe health issues and potential fatality. As a precautionary measure, residents were not immediately evacuated, pending any changes in wind direction that could increase the risk.

Cause of the Derailment and Ongoing Situation

The cause of the derailment is currently unknown, as reported by Kirking. However, the engineer and conductor were reported to have escaped from the incident safely. The fire, which affected 10 to 15 rail cars, was observed burning intensely, as reported in a video posted on the social platform X. As of midday Friday, the fire was still ongoing, with a railroad fire crew actively working at the scene.

CPKC, resulting from the merger of Canadian Pacific Railway and Kansas City Southern last year, has activated its emergency response plan and launched a comprehensive, coordinated response to address the situation and mitigate any further risks.