NASSAU COUNTY, Fla. – The major train derailment in Ohio highlights the importance of knowing exactly what to do if something serious happens.
During a multi-day hands-on training course starting Wednesday, dozens of local first responders from both Florida and Georgia are learning exactly what to do if a train derails, causing hazardous chemicals to spill.
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The groups teamed up with CSX to get the hands-on experience.
Although the planning for this training and exercise began almost a year ago, recent railroad derailments in the news have been a stark reminder of the importance of preparedness for any incident.
“We wanted to make it as real as possible for our exercise at the EOC. So, bringing the gear and getting it into Nassau County was important to us,” Nassau County Emergency Management Director Tim Cooper said.
The CSX Responder Incident Training is a specialized, hands-on training program that provides first responders with insights into how rail cars work and how to respond safely to rail-related incidents. This will include a four-day hands-on training experience for local firefighters, which allows first responders to be aware of the different types of equipment on the railroad.
“We’re getting to actually put real-world training with our exercise,” Cooper said. “It speaks volumes for what capabilities that will give us if something like this was to happen in our community.”
The firefighters practiced installing a capping kit on a leaking valve during an exercise on Wednesday. From there, they put a dome on it and secured it in place to contain the leak.
Then they went through decontamination, just like they would if it was the real deal.
CSX provides emergency planning assistance and training at no cost to fire, police, and other emergency response personnel in the communities they serve, but this is the first time this training will be offered in Nassau.
Nassau County Emergency Management is responsible for the county’s disaster preparedness.
The EM staff writes plans for and organizes exercises of county response operations for all types of natural and manmade hazards.
“Thanks to our partnerships with CSX Transportation and the BlueLinx Corporation,” Cooper said, “we are fortunate to have this derailment and hazmat training in our community.”
CSX’s director of hazardous materials Chris Machenberg said the recent incident in West Palestine, Ohio, drives home how important it is to be prepared.
“We’re looking at how they responded and just like every other railroad and hazmat team, we’re looking at lessons learned,” Machenberg said. “Good things, bad things, difficulties they may have had or encountered. And we’re building off that to make sure all the gaps that we may have are identified.”
The Northeast Florida area has seen major derailments, like in 2014, a Norfolk Southern train tanker car derailed under the Acosta Bridge. It was carrying 28,000 gallons of ethanol.
No one was injured, but people were still evacuated as a precaution.
News4JAX was told only a few gallons of the chemical spilled out.
That incident involved the same company as the Ohio incident.
In 2019, tanker cars that were also carrying ethanol overturned along the tracks and fell into the Cedar River.
CSX said no spills or leaks could be detected. No one was injured in that incident either.
The multi-day training will take place on private property; therefore, attendance will be limited to personnel participating in the hands-on activities.
By the time this training wraps up, roughly 70 firefighters from seven different counties in Florida and Georgia will be fully trained in this. They say the information is not only important, but it could also save lives.
Nassau County Fire Chief Brady Rigdon said he’s happy his firefighters and others have this extra layer of protection.
“Learn how to clamp them off, learn how to hopefully stop these incidents before they become a bigger deal before the railroad crew can get there,” Rigdon said.
Machenberg said CSX averages about 40 training events with roughly 3,000 first responders every year doing this type of training.
CSX encourages public safety, and that’s a message it wants to send to the public. If anyone notices something or has a question or concern, they’re advised to call the emergency hotline at 1-800-232-0144.