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BNSF Oil Carrying Freight Train Explodes in North Dakota
Casselton, North Dakota – An oil carrying freight train belonging to the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation (BNSF) Railway Co. derailed two days ago causing a massive explosion outside this central North Dakota town of just 2,400 people. As dark clouds billowed from the flames, authorities began evacuating some of the residents. The county sheriff believes that the evacuation was purely a precaution and that no one was in immediate danger. In all, roughly 300 people were evacuated.
BNSF believes the incident occurred at 2:10PM Monday afternoon with as many as 20 freight cars involved. Police believe that fire consumed ten of the cars. It isn’t known at this time what caused the explosion. An investigation will be conducted. The city of Casselton is located roughly 25 miles west of Fargo. North Dakota has become a major supplier of domestic oil in recent years and the oil boom there has given the state one of the few places where real economic growth is being experienced.
BNSF is the nation’s second largest freight train company next to the Union Pacific Railroad. The reluctance of President Obama to allow completion of additional oil pipelines has given rise to freight railroad companies having an increasing role in moving the vital fuel across the country.
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