At least three ethanol tank cars in a BNSF train ruptured and caught fire early Saturday morning near Scotland SD. The derailment was reported about 6:15AM. Several of the tank cars fell into a creek, and the bridge across that creek was destroyed.
BNSF Spokesman Andy Williams said a total of nine tank cars derailed in the accident. He said no cause for the derailment had been determined. Williams said BNSF crews would fill the ruptured cars with foam to prevent any flare up of the ethanol. He said their crews would work to move the damaged cars away from the accident site.
Scotland Fire Chief Mike Mehrer says there was a “pretty good fireball” when they arrived about 6:30. He says firefighters did not attempt to put the fire out, but stood by to make sure there was no damage to adjacent areas. There are no homes or buildings close to the rail line. Mehrer said there were no injuries.
Fire units from Lesterville, Menno, Tyndall and Tabor were also on the scene. Haz Mat crews from Omaha also arrived on the scene in the early afternoon. Williams said they didn’t know how long it would take to clear the damage, and rebuild the bridge.