A train derailed in Somerset County, Maine on Saturday around 8:30 a.m. Several wagons caught fire, starting "a small forest fire," according to the authorities. The fire was controlled and there is no risk to public health or safety, according to the same sources.
I have been briefed on the train derailment that occurred earlier today in Somerset County. The Maine Forest Service & Maine DEP, along with local emergency personnel, have responded. Officials on site indicate that there is no threat to public health or safety.
— Governor Janet Mills (@GovJanetMills) April 15, 2023
A total of three locomotive engines and six railcars carrying lumber and electrical wiring derailed, according to the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. Although it had been reported that some of the damaged cars contained hazardous materials, the department has since reported that it was not the case.
The train did carry hazardous substances but, "the assessment of officials on the scene is that these hazardous materials are not at risk of leaking and are not at risk of catching fire." In addition, three railroad employees were sent to the hospital with injuries, none of which are life-threatening.
First responders established a unified command center in Jackson. An operations team from the company that owns the train, Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited (CPKC), was also sent to the scene, although the company has not issued an official statement.
An FRA safety inspector is en route to the site of a Canadian Pacific Railway derailment near Brassua, Maine. Local responders have contained a fire in the area with no hazardous material released. FRA is monitoring the situation closely & will support local efforts as needed.
— The FRA (@USDOTFRA) April 15, 2023
The incident in Maine is one of a dozen derailments that have occurred since the tragedy in East Palestine, Ohio, on February 3.