Rail Incident Response for Rural Areas

July 22, 2013

Sources: EMR-ISAC, RDPC

In response to the train crash and explosion last month in Quebec, the Rural Domestic Preparedness Consortium (RDPC) wishes to remind rural fire departments of their course “Rail Car Incident Response.” The free 8-hour instructor-led course is available on request to qualifying jurisdictions.

The accident in Quebec destroyed nearly 4 blocks of the small town of 6,000 people; all those missing are now presumed dead. The train was hauling crude oil, and firefighters and apparatus from Maine responded to help.

Freight rail traffic hauls a wide variety of goods around the United States, including hazardous materials, and often travels through rural areas. Due to the sheer volume and variety of materials being transported, it is important for first responders in rural areas to be well-trained to handle such events and understand the risks and dangers to themselves and to the communities they protect.

TransCAER also offers training for first responders who have train traffic in their jurisdiction. The TransCAER calendar lists available training by date. Contact information is also available by region to facilitate training requests.