Practice mimics life in rail test run

Cramahe Township staffer, Jim Harris, reported to Council on September 15 that the township has fulfilled its legal requirements to hold an annual training and exercise session.
In his report to council, Mr. Harris stated that the training session dealing with hazardous materials on rail lines was held on June 24. It was followed by a table-top session where emergency officials conducted a real-time emergency dry run.

In the “event” a train had derailed. Two of the derailed cars held hazardous materials. Two others were burning. Some roads were inaccessible and the township CAO and mayor were unavailable.

The practice run through was particularly appropo as six of 137 cars from an eastbound train jumped the tracks near a Cramahe rail crossing on March 21, 2009. Two of the derailed cars were empty flatbeds but four others were tanker cars carrying a flammable liquid called naphthalene. It is classified as a dangerous commodity by Transport Canada.

The Emergency Management Committee will meet several more times this year to discuss ways to improve emergency procedures.