Crews plan to extinguish fire Saturday night from train derailment near Arizona-New Mexico line
LUPTON, Ariz.– Crews plan to extinguish a fire Saturday evening stemming from a freight train derailment near the Arizona-New Mexico state line that forced the closure of a portion of Interstate 40.
Some wreckage has been cleared from the tracks, but about 35 train cars remain, including a half-dozen train cars that were carrying non-scented propane and had caught fire, said Lawrence Montoya Jr., McKinley County Fire and Rescue chief. New Mexico.
No injuries were reported in Friday’s derailment of the BNSF Railway train near Lupton, Arizona, although it appeared the derailment occurred on the New Mexico side of the tracks.
About 40 people living within a two-mile radius of the derailment site remain evacuated as a precaution as winds carried thick smoke and local firefighters responded.
âWe hope we can extinguish the fire before midnight,â Montoya said.
Once the fire is extinguished, any fuel that has not burned off and remains on site is also contained.
The eastbound lanes of Interstate 40 are closed around Holbrook, Arizona, and the westbound lanes of the highway are closed near Grants, New Mexico.
Authorities say people should expect major delays and seek alternative routes or postpone travel in the area.
No dates have been specified for when that stretch of highway will reopen. Montoya said he expects the highway to remain closed until the fire is extinguished and hazardous materials are mitigated.
The cause of the derailment is being investigated.