LUPTON, Ariz. — Both directions of Interstate 40 have now fully reopened and all evacuation orders have been lifted around the site of Friday’s BNSF derailment and fire near the Arizona-New Mexico border, according to McKinley County (N.M.) Fire and Rescue.
Westbound lanes were reported open about 9:40 a.m. Mountain Time; eastbound lanes reopened this afternoon.
Testing has indicated there is no reason for concern about air quality in the area, the department has indicated. It was not immediately clear if the fire has finally been extinguished; a report earlier this morning indicated it was continuing to burn.
Earlier, the evacuation area had been reduced from a 2-mile to 1-mile radius. Officials of the Navajo Nation evacuated residents on Friday [see “BNSF derailment, fire close Interstate 40,” Trains News Wire, April 26, 2024]. Heavy machinery had continued work to clear debris, while firefighter and hazmat personnel provide protection against the release of hazardous materials and to control potential fire growth.
New Mexico Department of Transportation bridge inspectors were expected on site this morning to conduct examination of overpasses to the northeast of the incident site, the fire agency reported.
BNSF has informed customers that it reopened one track through the area at 5:30 p.m. Mountain Time and the second at 8:45 p.m.
Amtrak Southwest Chief service between Los Angeles and Albuquerque, N.M., remains canceled at least through today, according to Amtrak’s website. KOAT-TV reports that some Amtrak passengers have complained they are stranded in Albuquerque without housing, but that the city is providing assistance for some travelers.
— Updated at 11:25 a.m. CT with report of partial opening of I-40 and end of evacuation order; updated at 6:45 p.m. CT with full reopening of highway and BNSF estimates for reopening of rail line. Updated April 29 at 7:30 a.m. with BNSF report on line reopening, update on Southwest Chief status.
