Evacuation north of Lethbridge ends after CP Rail train leaks octane

A southern Albertaevacuation order has been lifted aftera derailed Canadian Pacific Railway train leaked octane Mondaymorning.

The train left the tracks around at 7:40 a.m. MT Monday south of the village of Barons, Alta., railway spokesperson Salem Woodrow said by email. Barons is roughly 30 kilometres north of Lethbridge.

CP Rail has deployed teams to the site, she said. TheTransportation Safety Board says it has a team of investigators from Calgary en route to the scene, which isnear Highway 23 at Township Road 120.

Three rail cars leaked octane, which is flammable,Lethbridge County Reeve Lorne Hickey said. Two have been secured but a third remains buried by other cars. The pile has to be taken apart in order to reach the leak, he said, adding that work may continue into the night.

"They're doing their best right at the present moment to get the others moved so they can shut this one off," Hickey said. "Depends what kind of shape it's in when they get it exposed."

Photosfrom the scene show railcars lying within metres of the roadway.

The county had issued a critical alert by 10:50 a.m. MT that included an evacuation order for communities in a two-kilometreradius around the derailment site.

Hickey said six homes were evacuated, and the bulk of the other evacuees came from the campground and golf course.

Highway 23 remains closed in both directions from Township Road 11-4 to Township Road 12-2.

Hazmat teams from CP Rail and local fire departmentswere on the scene to contain the leak.

The derailment was first announced by 511 Alberta shortly after 10 a.m. MT, andwarned of traffic delays in the area due to the road closure. Traffic was rerouted westbound.

'Not good for business'

Jim Striemer, manager of the Keho Lake campground and golf course, said he told upwards of 300 golfers and campersto evacuate.

"I told everybody there was an emergency. Everybody has to leave," he said.

RCMP helped him knock on the doors of more than 100 trailer doors. Many of the campers are snowbirds who make Keho Lake their permanent home in the summer, Striemer said, making the evacuation all the more inconvenient.

"It's not good for business, that's for sure," he said.

As for the cause, officials are waiting for the Transportation Safety Board investigators to arrive and start their investigation. Hickey said it was his understanding that CP had been keeping up with track maintenance.

While work continues, he's askingAlbertans to stay away from the site.

"Biggest thing for safety is to keep everyone out of that area and stay away," Hickey said. "A lot of people like to drive out and have a look, but don't do so."