FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) – “What about Fort Wayne?” It’s a question some have asked during 15 Finds Out’s investigative series mostly focused on oil trains traveling through Noble and DeKalb Counties. The city has significantly fewer oil trains, still emergency crews are preparing for the worst-case-scenario.
More crude oil than ever is being drilled in North Dakota and shipped through northeast Indiana on railroads. The month of November, 15 Finds Out has focused on the growing risk and the government’s response.
The vast majority of oil trains traveling through northeast Indiana run through Noble and DeKalb Counties. According to railroad statistics, 33 to 59 trains carrying a million gallons or more of crude oil travel through those counties every week, on two separate lines.
Between 0 and 4 oil trains travel directly through downtown Fort Wayne every week.
Since the beginning of last year, there have been at least 10 major oil train derailments in the U.S. and Canada. One incident in Quebec killed 47 people.
So far, 15 Finds Out uncovered first responders who were left in the dark regarding oil train statistics, a battle to make oil trains safer, and an emergency plan that could evacuate anyone living up to five miles away from an oil train derailment.
In September, Allen County Homeland Security Director Bernie Beier told 15 Finds Out he disagrees with the U.S. Department of Transportation calling the rise in crude-by-rail a growing risk.
“I would argue that there’s less of a risk not only for crude but for all products because of the attention that crude has received at state and local governments,” Beier said.
Leaders with the Fort Wayne Fire Department said they’re currently looking at the potential problems and the risk of an oil train derailing in the city. Like others, they have boosted training.
They’re responses Beier said are essential.
“It’s the unknown that makes things more dangerous,” Beier said. “So the more we know as first responders, as local government, and as a community about what’s moving through our community and the more we partner with those moving it through to talk about those what if’s, to talk about resources and capabilities and to acknowledge how to respond, that alone makes a community safer.”
15 Finds Out will have updates once a decision is made on proposed regulations aimed at making crude-by-rail safer.
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