News9.com - Oklahoma City, OK - News, Weather, Video and Sports | Officials investigate train derailment in Luther
A train burns in rural northeastern Oklahoma County.
A fire consumed a derailed train near Luther.
Crews have been cleaning up after the train derailment for over 24 hours.News9.com
LUTHER, Okla. - Fire officials are still cleaning up after a train, carrying crude oil, derailed around 2:30 p.m. Friday in rural northeastern Oklahoma County.
Firefighters let the blaze burn itself out, but the fire didn't die out until shortly after sunrise Saturday morning.
Crews want to clean up the area by Monday morning so they can have the railway up and running again. Chief Brian Martin and his volunteer firefighters have been on scene for over 24 hours helping with the clean up.
"Our job has been mostly support. They're trying to cool the tanks off so they can get the liquid out and be able to move them," Chief Martin said.
Burlington Northern Santa Fe has hired crews to remove its rail cars that were knocked off the tracks during the derailment. The state of Oklahoma owns the tracks and is already working on repairs.
Those who live in Luther were been allowed to return home and the chief is counting his blessings.
"Another couple of miles and it would have been in our downtown, so I couldn't have asked for any better situation under the circumstances," said Chief Martin.
The Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway, traveling southbound from Tulsa, derailed about near Covell and Dobbs roads north of Luther, said Joe Faust, the director of public affairs for the Fort Worth, Texas-based railway.
Some of the cars that derailed were carrying crude oil, ethanol or had hydrochloric residue, Faust said.
The train's conductor and chief engineer were not injured. No other injuries were reported.
There were 110 railcars on the train. The railroad tracks near the site of the fire appeared to be bent and an oil pumpjack is located nearby. Explosions at the site sent large balls of fire into the air.
Several fire crews were on the scene Friday but could not get near the fire at first because of the danger, said Cecil Clay, Oklahoma City deputy fire chief.
Burlington Northern is investigating the cause of the accident. The Federal Railroad Administration is conducting its own investigation.
The sex offender accused of murdering a Spencer woman outside her Midwest City church is facing other accusations too. More>>
A search for a missing Oklahoma City boy has ended after the boy showed up at school, police said. More>>
Several large columns of concrete fell from the expanding parking garage at the Devon Tower construction site. More>>
The possibility of more winter storms could mean more snow days for Oklahoma schools. Now, teachers are worried if students will be prepared for the upcoming standardized tests. More>>
Frequently unemployment is merely reported as a statistic, but the Oklahoma Impact Team is taking a closer look at the people behind the numbers. More>>
Oklahoma ranks as the third worst state for women due to high rates of domestic violence, teen pregnancy and incarcerated women. The Oklahoma Women's Coalition is working to change that. More>>
The Junior League of Norm is sponsoring the Healthy Smiles exhibit at the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History on Sunday, February 7 from 1-5 p.m. as part of National Children's Dental Health month. More>>
High schools across the state could begin offering an elective course in the study of the Bible under a measure approved by a Senate committee. More>>
