At 10:39 a.m. on Oct. 7, a freight train derailed near Clair, forcing the small community of 50 people to be evacuated. While provincial officials could not say soon after the accident what the train was carrying, hazardous materials crews were en route and an RCMP news release confirmed the presence of hazardous materials on the train.
According to Jim Feeny, 26 of the 100 rail cars being pulled were derailed. The fire itself came from petroleum distillates, which spilled from two of the cars. Officials assumed the smoke was toxic.
No injuries were reported of either crew or nearby residents, despite the evacuation. Witnesses did see black smoke billowing from the wreck, however. A one-kilometer radius barrier was set up around the site to redirect traffic and Highway 5 between Wadena and Watson has been closed. RCMP will be setting up a detour on gravel roads through the area.
While Humboldt fire crews were not needed, RCMP officers from Wadena, Wynyard, Lanigan, Rose Valley, Punnichy, and Humboldt were called upon for assistance.
"CN is on site to assess the derailment," said Jennifer Brooks, director of communications for the City of Humboldt. "As of this time, the City has not received a call for situational support."
Quill Lake and Wadena fire and Wadena EMS are also assisting with the situation.
According to witnesses and photos, the smoke was billowing up to 30 metres into the air. Furthermore, while the location of the wreck seems to be fairly unpopulated, the community of Clair is located approximately 11 minutes east of Quill Lake.
