City has a plan should a rail disaster strike

Monday’s train derailment resulted in cars carrying crude oil going up in flames, causing huge plumes of smoke, and forcing the closure of part of Highway 16 near Guernsey.

No injuries were reported, but things could have been much worse if had happened in a more populated area.

Mike Ralston is the deputy chief, operations, with the Saskatoon Fire Department.

He said there are plans in place to deal with a potential rail disaster in the city.

“Every situation is different in terms of a rail disaster, there are different commodities that might be involved,” said Ralston.

Ralston said a response could include fire engines, the hazmat team, the City of Saskatoon Emergency Measures Organization as well as the mobile command unit. He said the first priority would be to preserve lives, then start with stabilization of property and environment. An important part of that is knowing what they’re dealing with, be it oil or another commodity.

“We would do an initial isolation zone as our first step. So, we isolate an area based on the Transport Canada Emergency Response guide book — our first act after that would be to determine the product if we can,” said Ralston.

Ralston said once they determine what the product is, they can determine the protective action distances.

“What is the population that is threatened, what are the weather and terrain conditions — then we would choose strategies based on those protective actions we are required to do.”

In 2013, a freight train carrying crude oil derailed in downtown Lac Megantic, Que. resulting in an explosion and fire, killing 47 people.