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Fires out at train derailment site, evacuation order mostly lifted

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The tanker fires were out Friday at the site of Monday’s CSX train derailment near Montgomery in Fayette County and almost all residents of Mount Carbon and Adena Village were being allowed to return home, according to federal officials.

An evacuation order, though, remained in effect for those living in the five homes closest to the derailment site and CSX representatives, who were talking with those homeowners about their next steps, had no indications of when that order would be lifted.

Several factors were considered before all other residents were permitted to go home for the first time since Monday afternoon when 27 of 109 tanker cars on a CSX train hauling crude oil derailed, destroying one home and sparking massive explosions.

“One is the environmental consideration, the air monitoring on-site remains ongoing. We’re still getting good readings, but we certainly want to make sure that those conditions are safe for folks,” said Lawrence Messina, spokesperson for the West Virginia Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety.

One lane of Route 61 also reopened Friday for local residents and commuters.

“After careful evaluation, we have determined it is safe to reopen one lane of Route 61,” said Dennis Matlock, the federal on-site coordinator, in a statement. “Safety of the residents remains our top priority.”

Messina provided an update on Friday’s MetroNews “Talkline” as crews continued to work in sub-zero temperatures to recover the spilled crude oil. At the same time, CSX was continuing to off-load any remaining oil in the damaged cars.

Testing of air and water quality was also ongoing on Friday morning.

“There still isn’t a timeline,” Messina said of the estimated duration of cleanup efforts. “As it has been this week, the weather is kind of cutting both ways.” Containment booms were still being used on the Kanawha River. The derailment happened along Armstrong Creek, a tributary.

Residents in Boomer Bottom, located across the Kanawha River from the derailment site, were allowed to return to their homes on Thursday. Evacuation orders had previously been lifted in other areas.

CSX temporarily relocated its Outreach Center to Valley High School in Smithers. Hours were from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The Outreach Center will reopen at the Glen Farris Inn on Monday.

The agencies involved in the ongoing response included the U.S. Coast Guard, the Federal Railroad Administration, CSX, the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Environmental Protection Agency, the West Virginia Department of Environmental, the West Virginia Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety and the National Guard.





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