This is off the Tehachapi News website.. Great pics.. Just reposting.

http://www.tehachapinews.com/content/breaking-news-hazardous-spill-forces-evacuations

Some residents along Woodford Tehachapi Road near the Tehachapi Loop have been evacuated following a train derailment that caused the spill of an unknown, hazardous material, according to the Kern County Fire Department.

The evacuation was ordered within a one-mile radius of the derailment, said Justin Corley of the fire department.

Two cars from a BNSF train derailed as the train entered Tunnel No. 9 near the Tehachapi Loop. One of them caught fire. The call came in to the fire department at 9:33 p.m., Corley said.

Officials are currently investigating the cause of the crash and the spilled material.

Fire department public information officer told Tehachapi News photographer Nick Smirnoff that officials would let the fire burn itself out.

A resident reported seeing law enforcement wearing protective masks.

Smoke was seen coming from the area where the accident is believed to have happened.

Tehachapi News contributing editor Carin Enovijas said she saw what could be flames coming from the accident site.

A Kern County Sheriff's deputy told her the spill may be alcohol-based, she said.

Enovijas said the area smelled "like chemicals."

A segment of State Route 58 was closed, and road blocks along Woodford Tehachapi Road at Lower Marcel Drive have been set up.

Upon investigating, Tehachapi News reporter Tina Forde said 15 nearby residences were alerted to the spill.

The Tehachapi Hospital front desk said no patients have been brought in as a result of the derailment and fire.

Smirnoff said fire officials told him seven houses were evacuated.

Leonard Arends of the American Red Cross Disaster Action Team said a temporary shelter has been set up at Tehachapi High School for any evacuees.

Cots and blankets are being delivered, and a disaster trailer is being delivered from Bakersfield, he said.

He said he was told hazardous-material clean-up time could take between 12 and 24 hours.



Keep visiting TehachapiNews.com for updates.



This was sent from the Kern County Fire Department

KEENE - CA, - Saturday February 20th 2010 at approximately 9:31 P.M., a call was received by the Kern County Fire Department, for a train derailment at the entrance to tunnel 9, on the Tehachapi Loop south of Keene. 18 Kern County Firefighters responded to the incident assisted by Kern County Environmental Health Agency, Kern County Sheriff, CHP and Railroad crews.

Upon arrival, fire crews were faced with a cargo train with 2 tanker cars that had derailed at the entrance to tunnel 9. At least one of the tanker cars was involved in fire. According to the train manifest the tanker involved in fire was carrying alcohol.

Due to the nature of the toxic cloud, and as a precaution, local residents were evacuated for a 1 mile radius. A temporary shelter was set up at the Tehachapi High School.

Railway engineers uncoupled and removed the unaffected part of the train.

There were no reported injuries.

For more news and information visit www.kerncountyfire.org.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/21/10 08:24 by LVFoamer.

---

---