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Oil train derails and catches fire in Oregon; highways and schools evacuated

Posted at 5:09 PM, Jun 03, 2016
and last updated 2016-06-03 17:09:12-04

From Mid-Columbia Fire & Rescue

MOSIER, Ore. — A train towing cars full of oil derailed in Oregon’s Columbia River Gorge, sparking a fire and forcing the closure of Interstate 84 Friday afternoon.

Emergency crews were first called to reports of the derailment in the Mosier area around 12:30 p.m.

Ken Armstrong, spokesman for the Oregon Department of Forestry, says the incident involves eight cars filled with oil and one is burning.

The Oregon Department of Transportation shut down I-84 around 1 p.m. as black smoke billowed into the sky.

Everyone within a half-mile was evacuated, including a nearby charter school.

There were no immediate reports of injuries, KPTV reports.

The train was operated by Union Pacific. A spokesman for the railroad didn’t immediately return calls.

Mosier is about 70 miles east of Portland.

This is a developing story and will be updated.