Rail cars burn after derailment in eastern Montana

ISMAY, Mont. — At least eight rail cars caught fire and several exploded after a freight train derailed in an unpopulated area of eastern Montana, sending at least one fiery mushroom cloud into the sky.

A Burlington Northern Santa Fe spokesman says 14 tanker cars containing denatured alcohol and one car hauling cardboard derailed Sunday afternoon between Baker and Ismay, about 180 miles northeast of Billings.

The rail cars carrying the fuel additive caught fire in a chain reaction, but no one was injured.

Firefighter Kelly Gray, of Plevna, took a picture of the flames as one of the cars exploded and told The Billings Gazette the heat felt like her eyebrows were going to be singed.

The derailed cars were part of a 106-car train headed to Laurel from Aberdeen, S.D.