Naperville hosts railroad emergency response training
Railroad cars carrying hazardous materials travel through the Western suburbs on a regular basis, but it's not every day emergency responders can practice how to handle a potential derailment, fire or chemical spill.
On Friday, at least 50 fire and police personnel from Naperville, Aurora, Bolingbrook, Downers Grove, Lisle, Montgomery and Woodridge participated in a live training in which they practiced rescuing victims, mitigating a chlorine vapor cloud and conducting evacuations.
Naperville Fire Department Division Chief Kevin Lyne said the exercises took place in an industrial area near Naperville's public works facility, and they were conducted in cooperation with the Burlington Northern Santa Fe and Canadian National railroads.
"The railroads are pushing for the training, fire departments are looking for more training because it's not like we have access to trains on a regular basis," Lyne said.
He said Naperville organized the exercise in response to community concerns raised late this summer about the safety of railroad tank cars, specifically those carrying crude oil. Hazardous materials technicians practiced responding to spills based on the science of the chemicals, and about 20 other Naperville city employees practiced running emergency operations and communications during Friday's session.