SRT: Train’s collision with fertilizer truck could have been much worse | News

Somerset-Pulaski County Specific Response Team (SRT) Main Doug Baker knows that Friday’s incident involving a educate and a truck getting into the Warner Fertilizer facility off of Ky. 2227 could have been a significantly bigger mess — so to talk.

That’s simply because, even though some styles of fertilizer are really flammable, not all are — and the latter variety is what emergency personnel identified by themselves dealing with at the scene as loaded tanker cars and trucks discovered on their own sitting appropriate on top rated of the granular fertilizer that spilled from the truck.

“You listen to about ammonium nitrate, which beneath particular situations is very explosive,” stated Baker. “But this one particular … We called Somerset Fire (Department) and Josh Whitis with (Pulaski County) Crisis Administration to appear so we could all get our heads about it. We go around to verify … what the chemical buildings are, the reactivities, the hazards.

“This ended up remaining a pretty stable fertilizer, it is known as a DAP (Di-ammonium Phosphate),” he added. “As prolonged as it’s not associated in a fireplace, it is stable. So we realized at that point, a large amount of our concerns were relieved. … Had there been a fire, it could have been a (massive explosion).”

At around 10 a.m, a semi-truck hauling about 60,000 kilos of fertilizer pulled in entrance of a prepare at the crossing off of Ky. 2227 moving into the Warner Fertilizer house, in accordance to Baker.

“The practice struck the semi in the trailer, so when it came aside, we shed a whole load of fertilizer on the tracks,” claimed Baker. “… Crap went just about everywhere.”

He noted that there are no crossbars at the keep track of that protect against anyone from going more than it when a educate is approaching.

“We’ve experienced a pair or three incidents now at that intersection,” said Baker, noting that it is possible to not realize one’s trailer is even now on the keep track of if the driver is attempting to conquer a train across.

The Norfolk Southern practice was headed southbound “at a really very good clip,” so it took a when for the educate to halt. When it did, which is when the two tanker vehicles total of alcohol were stopped in excess of the fertilizer on the tracks.

No a person was damage in the accident, including the truck driver, mentioned Baker.

Considering that the educate was included in fertilizer, pointed out Baker, Norfolk Southern and SRT worked on a remedy, and the educate was taken on to Burnside to be decontaminated. Baker voiced appreciation for Norfolk Southern in that “they seriously perform perfectly with us.”

Baker stated the clear-up at the scene went on all through the afternoon. The tracks had been re-opened by about 1 p.m., but all the fertilizer had to be vacuumed up, he mentioned, and “it requires a even though.”

Somerset Fireplace Main Bengie Howard reported his models were being on the scene right up until everything was cleared up, about two hours. He observed that Eco-Tech United states of america was on site to guide with the dealing with of the harmful components.

“There was very little to place out all we did was stand by,” said Howard. “Us and SRT get the job done together fairly typically. Our position was to stand by in situation a thing did occur.”

Also helping were being the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Workplace, Pulaski County 911, Kentucky Crisis Administration and Chemtrec.

Even though this incident finished up becoming a disaster averted, one particular by no means understands when the worst could strike. Baker is wanting ahead to the final results of a commodities study that SRT worked on previous calendar year with Western Kentucky University that will assistance them far better get ready for scenarios of this nature down the street.

“This should be out I’m hoping in the subsequent couple of months,” mentioned Baker. “What they do, they despatched people today above below who for 5 days sat at U.S. 27 and Ky. 80 and monitored Norfolk Southern’s railway. So when this research arrives out, we will be capable to see how considerably actual dangerous things arrives as a result of the county, by semi via 27 and 80, and by tank car (on the railroad). All the fire departments, emergency administration, us, every person can get jointly and check out to make a pre-system for a thing like this. I do not believe a good deal of men and women recognize the quantity of hazardous cargo that goes by this county each and every working day.”

Baker was most pleased with the cooperation between businesses that permitted the problem to be figured out and dealt with immediately.

“It just goes to show that even although this ended up in the extended operate being risk-free and we ended up capable to mitigate it with out hurt, experienced this been in the previous times when no person planned with each other, (it could have been even worse),” said Baker. “Us and Somerset (Fire) do a ton, as properly as the other county fire departments. So when all people gets there, you variety of get alongside one another and know what to do.”