What happened in Tulare County five years ago is now shaping the ability of firefighters to respond to derailment incidents across the State.
At around 6:30 a.m. on November 23, 2020, the Union Pacific southbound mixed freight train derailed with its six tank cars near Goshen, California.
Although there were no injuries recorded during this incident, the derailed tanks released hazardous chemicals such as butane and hydrochloric acid. This called for an immediate hazmat response, and the evacuation of nearby communities.
First responders applied their textbook knowledge to clear the derailed materials from the incident site.
This incident pointed to the need for training targeted at strengthening the practical component of responding to rail car incidents.
Filling that need, the City of Roseville and Cal OES opened the Hazmat Derailment Training Site opened at the Roseville Fire Training Center… with its official dedication on November 19.
This unique facility is an investment in training fire fighters to respond to hazmat derailment incidents across California.
The site replicates the rail car carnage from the 2020 incident and features realistic elements such as smoke and substances that mimic hazardous materials and tanks positioned at angled and elevated levels, just how they would appear in a real-life situation.
The new site allows responders from all over California to join subject matter experts on proper mitigation techniques for rail car events. In other words, apply their theoretical knowledge in practical situations.
Cal OES, in partnership with the Roseville Fire Department and the Union Pacific Railroad, collaborated to make the training site a reality.
Before they could be used, the Union Pacific team removed products that were inside the tanks, decontaminated them, then donated them to be used at the training site. The Roseville Fire Department expanded their campus to accommodate the new training site, and Cal OES provided the resources to move and set up the derailed rails cars at the Roseville site.
The site has allowed trainees to receive certification since 2021.
Cal OES continues to work with the Roseville Fire Department to improve the site’s features, to help responders better prepare for future incidents in a state where rail is critical to keep our economy rolling.