CARRINGTON, N.D. — Multiple cars of a CPKC train carrying hazardous materials derailed and caught fire early today (July 5) in east-central North Dakota.
The Associated Press reports that 29 cars derailed, including cars carrying anhydrous ammonia, sulfur, and methanol, according to an official from the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality. Wind was blowing the smoke away from the nearest town, Bordulac, which has about 20 residents.
CPKC said in a statement to Trains News Wire that it has “initiated its emergency response plan and launched a comprehensive, coordinated response” to the derailment about 3:30 a.m. about 10 miles southeast of Carrington. “Crews, including senior officers from our operations and hazardous materials teams, are responding to assess the situation. We are coordinating with local emergency response officials already on scene. The train is carrying hazardous materials. There is a fire at the scene. There are no reports of injuries. The safety of the public and emergency responders is CPKC’s first priority.”
Photos posted to X.com show a number of burning tank cars straddling the single-track main line. No information is currently available on the type of material involved.
The derailment site is on CPKC’s Carrington Subdivision, about 105 miles northwest of Fargo.
— Updated at 2:16 p.m. with additional information.