CN to do aerial surveillance of derailment to determine source of fire

PLASTER ROCK, N.B. – Officials with CN will do an aerial surveillance of a train carrying propane and crude oil that derailed in northwestern New Brunswick to try to determine the source and extent of an ongoing fire.

CN spokesman Jim Feeny says crews will use a helicopter to help identify if the freight train is on fire in the community of Wapske, near Plaster Rock.

He says initial indications are that 15 cars and one locomotive derailed, though the train consisted of 122 cars and four locomotives.

Feeny says it’s not yet clear what caused the train to derail sometime around 7 p.m. Tuesday, though the conductor and engineer have provided statements which he would not release.

He says the fire has been contained, but that it includes 14 cars with eight of those containing propane and crude oil.

An evacuation of about 50 to 60 people within a two-kilometre radius of the fire remained in effect, as the province’s Emergency Operations Centre monitored smoke from the fire and the Health Department said it would issue public health advisories if necessary.