MORGAN COUNTY, Tenn. (WATE) — Multiple agencies responded after a train derailed and a fire started in the Lancing area of Morgan County.
The derailment took place around 3:23 p.m. on Thursday near milepost 243.9. This is a remote area of the tracks with no road access, which has made the response challenging for emergency personnel. Norfolk Southern told 6 News that the train was carrying ethanol, and their teams are on site to coordinate with local officials. Morgan County Executive Brian Langley said 15 to 20 cars had come off the tracks, and four to five of them, which were hauling ethanol, were impacted.
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Officials added that hazardous materials crews do not currently believe that ethanol is what is burning. Langley added that no injuries have been reported. Crews will be monitoring conditions as the cleanup, which is expected to take several days, gets underway. At this time, the cause of the derailment is unknown.
“There’s really no toxic fumes or anything coming off of it. They’re kind of trying to let it just burn itself out so they can get the cars back up,” said Morgan County Sheriff Rick Hamby…