Montana's Crude Oil Train Mishap: Nearby Areas Evacuate, Fire Threat Imminent

Montana's rural northeastern part was alarmed and caught by surprise when an oil train derailed, Thursday. At least two crude oil trains were leaking, authorities confirmed. Some nearby homes were immediately evacuated to prevent any casualties. 

Roosevelt County Sheriff Jason Frederick stated that, out of the 21 cars that were in the mishap, only two remained standing. Fortunately, there were no reports of fire injury as of late, as per ABC News.

Spokesman for Burlington Northern Santa Fe, Michael Trevino, said the train, prior to its derailment in Montana, was hauling 106 loaded crude oil cars near Culbertson near the North Dakota border just past 6 p.m. (MDT).

Authorities from the police department, fire and other emergency frontliners were immediately at the site of the accident, ceasing operations on federal Highway 2, the region's main road.

According to Fox News, Frederick informed The Associated Press that the crew that arrived in Montana were instructed not to get too close to the cars leaking with crude oil until a BNSF hazardous team arrives, on the way from Texas, and cleared the scene.

But he disclosed that there was no instant peril to public safety.

The sheriff does not have any figures on how many homes were told to vacate their premises but described the surrounding areas as an agricultural setting with ranch homes located far apart from one another.

Meanwhile, Seattlepi reported, rail officials refused to specify if the train passing Montana was towing crude oil from North Dakota's Bakken oil patch, where an expanding number of shipments have raised increasing concerns for safety.

In recent years, trains carrying crude coming from the Bakken region have been tangled in multiple train mishaps and derailments, with some even causing fires.

Officials from the U.S. Department of Transportation recently broadened an order for railroads to immediately inform states about shipments of hazardous crude oil cargo.

As to the recent derailment, Montana's crude oil cleaning operations will be monitored until the scene is declared clear from imminent danger.

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