Fiery Minnesota Train Derailment Prompts Evacuations

Raymond, MN (KROC-AM News)- Authorities have ordered evacuations for a small town in west-central Minnesota following a train derailment early Thursday morning. 

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The Kandiyohi County Sheriff’s Office says deputies were notified of a BNSF train derailment around 1 a.m. Emergency responders arrived at the scene and found several derailed tanker cars had caught on fire. 

Officials say the derailment occurred in the western outskirts of the City of Raymond, which is about 13 miles southwest of Willmar. Authorities then evacuated homes that are within a half-mile radius of the derailment. 

Evacuated residents with nowhere to go were sent to a shelter set up in Prinsburg, which is about 8 miles south of Raymond. Fire departments from Raymond and surrounding towns responded to fight the tanker car fire. 

Officials say the cars were carrying a form of ethanol and a corn syrup liquid. Authorities say the fire was contained but the derailment site remains active. 

As of 6:15 a.m. Hwy. 23 through Raymond was closed in both directions. Officials plan to release more information on the derailment when a BNSF staff arrive at the scene.