UPDATE: 87 seek treatment after toxic train derailment

Knoxville News-Sentinel (TN) - 7/3/2015

July 03--MARYVILLE -- The total number of people treated for exposure to toxic fumes from the burning derailed CSX tanker rose to 87 overnight, a Blount Memorial Hospital spokesman said Friday.

The hospital admitted 36 of those, most complaining of respiratory issues, skin irritation, headaches and nausea, spokesman Josh West said. None of the injuries is life threatening, he said.

The crash forced about 5,000 people from their homes, and they have not been able to return.

A news conference with the latest developments is planned at 7 a.m. at the Maryville Municipal Building.

A broken axle on a single CSX rail car hauling 24,000 gallons of a toxic chemical derailed a 57-car train in Blount County late Wednesday, causing a fire that burned for 19 hours and sent a poisonous plume of smoke into the sky, authorities said.

Maryville City Manager Greg McClain on Thursday called the scene a "major crisis."

"The last 16 hours have been very trying for our community," McClain said at a Thursday afternoon news conference at Heritage High School.

The train was headed from Cincinnati, Ohio, to Waycross, Ga., when it caught fire at about 11:50 p.m. Wednesday. The train was hauling acrylonitrile, a flammable, toxic and colorless liquid used in the manufacture of plastics.

Acrylonitrile is considered carcinogenic, and exposure can burn the skin, inflame the lining of the lungs, throat and nose and cause headaches, nausea and dizziness. Cyanide is a byproduct of burning acrylonitrile.

Firefighters opted to let the flames burn off the chemical rather than risk exposure by getting too close to attempt to extinguish the fire.

"I think they're just letting it burn itself out because they don't want to get too close to it," Blount County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Marian O'Briant said. "It's very toxic."

Authorities reported the fire had been "extinguished" by 7 p.m. The nearby cars were kept cool with water in the meantime to mitigate the risk of fire, authorities said.

Authorities issued a request across the region for specialized medical kits to treat cyanide poisoning that could result from exposure to the fumes.

"Our dispatch got a call about 7 a.m. asking about the cyanokits," said Chattanooga Fire Department Tactical Services Chief Danny Hague. "We gave four of them to the Tennessee Highway Patrol about 7:45 a.m. to take up there."

The kits are 4-by-10 inch boxes with supplies to intravenously administer a chemical that "pulls the cyanide out and allows it to be excreted through the urine," Hague said.

West, the spokesman for Blount Memorial Hospital, said he was unsure whether any of the 75 people treated Thursday for exposure symptoms required a cyanokit. The hospital admitted 28 of the treated patients, he said.

Five deputies with the Blount County Sheriff's Office and five Alcoa Police Department officers were sent to the hospital after being exposed to the fumes while trying to evacuate homes within a 2-mile radius overnight, O'Briant said.

West was unsure whether any of the 10 were being held overnight for observations. Those officers were decontaminated and given oxygen treatments.

Of the 57 cars on the train stranded along Old Mt. Tabor Road, 16 contained propane, nine held acrylonitrile and two were filled with asphalt. Twelve were empty. Other products on the train were gypsum wallboard, pulpboard, distillers mash, corn, lumber and scrap paper, CSX spokesman Craig Camuso said.

Although CSX officials have classified the incident as a derailment, a state emergency official said the train was still on the tracks Thursday.

"One car had a broken axle that punctured the car and sparked the fire," said Dean Flener, spokesman for the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency.

Camuso said no matter the cause, anytime a wheel leaves the track it is considered a derailment. He said the cause is under investigation. The Federal Railroad Administration also is involved in the probe.

Railroad and local emergency officials Thursday removed from the tracks 35 train cars unaffected by the flames shooting from the ruptured tanker.

Another 21 rail cars remained at the scene Thursday night, pending track repairs so they could be removed safely.

The Blount County Sheriff's Office called in extra officers Thursday morning to help with evacuating homes, O'Briant said.

"Just about every emergency agency in Blount County is involved," she said.

Officers initially sent evacuated residents to the parking lot of the Foothills Mall and later opened a shelter at Heritage High School. The American Red Cross chapter staffed the high school to help those displaced.

City and county officials warned the evacuation could last 48 hours and urged those displaced to find somewhere to stay.

CSX booked hotel rooms for many residents and offered to provide reimbursements for the rooms booked by others.

A team with the Environmental Protection Agency also has been on scene from Atlanta and has been conducting air monitoring since 7 a.m. Thursday, said Kevin Eichinger, the on-scene coordinator.

The contaminants in the air were at "background levels" Thursday afternoon, he said. The agency was preparing to begin sampling well water and surface water for contamination, he said.

Authorities have warned residents in the evacuation zone not to drink the well water until testing is completed and the water is deemed safe.

BCSO Deputy Chief Jarrod Millsaps said he expected some residents lingered inside the evacuation zone Thursday afternoon, especially if they had not answered their doors that morning when officer and firefighters knocked. At least one resident said he and his family didn't leave until 4 p.m., more than 16 hours after the derailment.

The Blount Partnership said in a statement that it is working with the businesses and residents affected by the train derailment.

"We will assist all businesses and individuals affected by this accident any way we can to get them operating as soon as possible," said Bryan Daniels, Blount Partnership president/CEO.

Staff writers Don Jacobs, Megan Boehnke and Hayes Hickman contributed to this report.

Evacuation of 5,000 Blount County residents moves into second day

Displaced families find food, shelter at Heritage High

Hospital decontaminates 75 people Thursday

Experts: Take precautions with well water

Trains first choice for moving chemicals, says UT center director

Woman goes back into evacuated house to get five dogs

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