Wanted to get this out there for our OR/WA Kossacks:
From OPB:
Multiple oil train cars derailed Friday afternoon near Hood River, according to the Oregon Department of Transportation. Two cars are fully engulfed in flames, an ODOT spokesperson said.
The Klickitat County Health Department issued an air quality advisory for White Salmon and Bingen, Wash., and the surrounding area. White Salmon and Bingen sit on the Washington side of the Columbia River, opposite Mosier.
The smoke is reportedly blowing west so Portland could be affected. You can monitor the coverage at OPB as well as The Oregonian:
A multi-car oil train derailment Friday in the Columbia River Gorge near Mosier sent up a massive plume of black smoke and stoked long-standing fears about the risks of hauling crude oil through one of the Pacific Northwest's most renowned landmarks.
One to two cars were on fire -- part of a train hauling eight cars, authorities said. It's not clear how many cars derailed. Photos showed at least seven cars off the tracks.
There were no immediate reports of injuries.
Both west & eastbound lanes of I-84 in the area are shut down right now. I can’t seem to get the live video feed to work on my computer but here’s the link:
www.kgw.com/...
Willamette Week
KATU reports the entire town of Mosier, near Hood River, is being evacuated.
UPDATE, 3:07 pm: Union Pacific Railroad spokesman Aaron Hunt confirms that 11 cars of his company's oil train derailed today.
This is in the updated story on OPB:
The 96-car Union Pacific train was carrying crude oil when it had an “undesired emergency application” of the brakes approximately 18 cars back from the head of the train, according to Herb Krohn, a legislative representative for the Union Pacific labor union. The crew “felt a tug” on the train, then looked back and saw smoke, Krohn said.
Anyone know what an “undesired emergency application” of the brakes means? I know we have some train folk around here.