Whatcom County, WA – Emergency Officials in Whatcom County have issued an evacuation order for businesses and residents in the Custer area after a train carrying a load of Crude Oil derailed around 11:40 a.m. this morning.
VIDEO Shared on Social Media by Calvin Poor:
All lanes of I-5 are currently closed in the area between Grandview Road and Birch Bay Lynden Road. Residents are asked to avoid the area as this will be a lengthy closure. A release on Twitter from the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad (BNSF) states “BNSF Railway has confirmed a train carrying crude oil derailed in Custer, WA around 11:40 a.m. on December 22nd, 2020. Intital reports indicate that between three and five tanker cars derailed and there are reports of a fire towards the end of the train. BNSF is working with local authorities to assess and mitigate the situation. Our First Priority is dealing with any safety issues. We will provide additional details as they become available.”
Please follow the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office on Facebook for Real Time Updates as well ask Whatcom County 9-1-1 and Washington State Patrol Public Information Officer for District 7, Trooper Heather Axtman on Twitter.
Photo: Jenny Reich / Facebook
Witnesses in the area have shared a wide range of photos of the derailment on social media. Below are some of those photos.
Photo Credit: Jenny Reich/Facebook
Photo: Brenda Elenbas/Facebook
Photo: Brenda Elenbas/Facebook
Photo Credit: Jenny Reich/Facebook
Video of the Incident was shared on Social media by Katie Blake via Calvin Poor. It can be seen below:
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