Residents return home after train derailment prompts evacuations in northern Minnesota

The derailment of the Canadian National Railway train happened north of Warroad around 4:50 a.m. The sheriff’s office said 42 cars derailed, including two that are classified as “dangerous goods,” a designation that the Federal Railroad Administration says includes energy products, chemicals, hazardous wastes and radioactive materials.

“There are no reported leaks, injuries or fires and no impact to crossings,” a CN spokesperson said in an email to Sheriff Steve Gust.

Hazardous materials teams were checking for leaks and monitoring the air at the scene on Saturday afternoon, the sheriff’s office said. According to officials, there are no environmental concerns.

First responders and CN employees were working on clearing and cleaning up the scene, which officials said could take two to three days.

CN said the cause of the derailment is under investigation.

“There’s been a derailment near you, and possibly evacuation,” Jim Kindrick said, reading an alert on his phone. “I’m like, oh, my. So I walked out, and I saw the train was stopped right in front of the house.”

Law enforcement asked families in the area, like the Kindricks, to evacuate, a precaution as emergency responders worked in the area. They spent the night at a hotel and were able to return home the next day. 

On Sunday, the sheriff’s office confirmed there are no environmental concerns. Teams with heavy equipment are working to upright the derailed cars and repair damage, which county officials say could continue for a few weeks.

A spokesperson for the Canadian National Railway said crews worked through the night to get trains moving through the area again, adding the cause of the derailment is still under investigation. 

“A ton of people helping out,” said Kindrick, thankful for the teams who mobilized quickly. “When you live in a small town and it’s a volunteer fire department … I know that those guys were out there all day.”