FELA Lawyer News Blog

SCAPPOOSE, OR – Two trains were set ablaze after a derailment and collision along adjacent tracks just south of Scappoose, OR on May 5, 2011.

Two trains set ablaze following a collision and derailment near Scappoose, OR on May 4, 2011.

Scappoose is located in Columbia County, Oregon in the northern part of the state on the border with Washington state. Scappoose is about 8 miles southwest of St Helens, Oregon and about 27 miles northwest of Vancouver, Washington.

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The derailment and collision occured around 12:45 p.m. on Wednesday afternoon near Milepost 14 on Highway 30 just northwest of Cornelius Pass Road.

The exact details of which train derailed first are not clear. One train was hauling logs and, according to the Oregon Department Of Transportation, the other was carrying tanker cars loaded with ethanol – a highly flammable hazardous material.

Some of the tanker cars filled with ethanol overturned in the mishap and no doubt lead to the blaze due to the flammability of the material.

Location of train derailment, collision and fire on the tracks near Milepost 14 off Highway 30 near Cornelius Pass Road.

According to a news report at the NWCN.com website, the train carrying lumber derailed, and then hit three tanker cars in a stationary train on a nearby track which ignited the fire.

Multiple fire crews were called in from Scappoose and Portland and an evacuation of nearby homes and businesses was ordered within a half-mile of the crash site. The incident caused an immense two-alarm fire. Authorities were concerned that the fire could escalate and cause an explosion.

Fortunately, there were no reports of any railroad worker injuries at the time of the incident.

Fire crews had to stand off some distance due to the toxic fumes. Ladder companies had to fight the fire from the other side of the highway by pouring water on it with raised platforms.

Hazmat crews most certainly had to be called into the scene due to the toxic material involved.

According to the news report at NWCN.com, the tanker cars were owned by Genessee & Wyoming.

Highway 30 had to be closed from Rocky Point Road on Highway 30 to the St. Johns Bridge in Portland. Several communities along Highway 30 were affected by the closure including Burlington, Sauvie Island and Linton.

Published by FELA lawyer news blog at Gordon &amp Elias, LLP

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