Custer Train Derailment: Evacuation Lifted, Investigations Begin

CUSTER, WA — A train carrying crude oil derailed near downtown Custer midday Tuesday, forcing officials to order a mass evacuation of the downtown and surrounding area.

The evacuation has since been lifted, and now several agencies are investigating the cause of the crash, including the National Transportation Safety Board, and the state Department of Ecology.

According to BNSF railway, the train derailed around 11:40 a.m. Early reports indicated that three to five of the train's tank cars had derailed, but after arriving on scene, deputies found that seven railway cars had fully derailed. A fire started near the end of the train, burning in two of the seven derailed cars. The fire cast a large plume of smoke which could be seen from miles away.

The Whatcom County Sheriff's Office responded to the news by ordering an emergency evacuation, telling everyone within 3/4 miles of the crash site to leave the area immediately.

That evacuation has also caused several traffic disruptions. I-5 was closed for about an hour between Grandview Road and Birch Bay, with WSDOT encouraging drivers to consider several detours.

In Custer's downtown, both Grandview and Main Street remain closed at Portal Way, as officials try to keep residents away from the crash site.

As of 3 p.m. several state agencies had arrived on scene, helping to contain the fire and evaluate the damage, including the Washington Department of Ecology.

Thus far, there have been no reports of injuries, and BNSF confirms their crew onboard the train was unharmed.

BNSF also says they are still investigating the cause of the derailment, but that their first priority is ensuring the safety of their crews and the surrounding town.

By Tuesday evening officials cleared the evacuation order, but the sheriff's office is warning everyone to stay away from the crash site, as it is still unsafe.

Train safety and the industry's impact on the local environment have been contentious issues for Washingtonians for years. Following the crash, Congressman Rick Larsen, who represents Washington's 2nd District, issued a statement thanking first responders for their efforts to contain the damage, but expressing concern about what caused the crash.

"I worked closely with the Obama administration to create strong rules to make the transport of oil by rail safer," Larsen said. "Clearly there may be more work to do."

The NTSB confirms they have opened an investigation into the crash as well, which they say will focus on how the derailed tank-cars performed.