SIBLEY, Iowa — The evacuation order resulting from the derailment of a Union Pacific train in Sibley was lifted Monday evening, after fears of an explosion eased greatly authorities discovered a car believed to be carrying ammonium nitrate was actually empty. KCAU-TV reports about 400 people had been affected by the evacuation order, which was lifted about 8 p.m. Work was continuing to extinguish the fire resulting from the Sunday derailment, with UP spokesman Kristen South saying railroad workers and first responders were using foam and dirt to smother the fire.
KIWA reports Sibley Fire Chief Ken Huls said safety concerns remained despite the discovery regarding the highly explosive ammonium nitrate because of cars containing hydrochloric acid and potassium hyrodchloride. Osceola County Emergency Management Director Dan Bechler said the fire had primarily involved gasoline and asphalt, with hazardous-material leaks elsewhere. Huls also said a report that a bridge had collapsed at the derailment site, causing the derailment, was not correct, although the bridge did suffer some damage.
Forty-seven cars of the UP train derailed Sunday afternoon in Sibley, a town of less than 3,000 near the Iowa-Minnesota state line [see “UP train derails, catches fire …,” Trains News Wire, May 16, 2021].
