Crime & Safety
Entire Georgia Town Evacuated Because Of Train's Chlorine Leak
A train carrying chlorine derailed near the small Georgia town of Bartow Sunday night, causing the evacuation.
JEFFERSON COUNTY, GA -- The entire town of Bartow, GA, population about 259, was evacuated Sunday night after a Norfolk Southern train carrying chlorine derailed. Jefferson County's EMA director and county fire chief, Jim Anderson, confirmed the derailment, which happened near Highway 171 at Highway 24 in Bartow.
Residents were allowed to return to their homes around 7 am Monday morning. The train crew was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
The original evacuation order was for an area within a 7-mile radius of the town, a radius that was eventually reduced to 3 miles.
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NS confirms that a train derailed shortly after 8 pm near Bartow, Ga. Some of the rail cars on the train were carrying chlorine, & chlorine odors & a cloud have been reported in the area. Local officials have ordered an evacuation of residents in the area. Updates provided ASAP.
— Norfolk Southern (@nscorp) January 7, 2019
Update on Bartow, Ga., train derailment: it has been confirmed that Hydrogen Peroxide was released. There is no indication of a chlorine leak at this time. The investigation is ongoing.
— Norfolk Southern (@nscorp) January 7, 2019
Bartow is located in central Georgia. Several nearby churches, campgrounds and businesses opened to house people who had been evacuated.
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