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Train derailment

Five CN Rail tank cars derailed Saturday morning in a field near Blackfalds causing one tank car to leak propane.
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CN Rail crews and heavy equipment operators work to unload machinery along highway 597 east of Blackfalds Saturday afternoon after a train derailment just north of the level crossing.

Five CN Rail tank cars derailed Saturday morning in a field near Blackfalds causing one tank car to leak propane.

Four tanks containing propane and one butane tank left the track near Hwy 597 at about 8:45 a.m.

Police closed down nearby roads.

Kelli Svendsen, CN spokesperson, said local emergency crews evacuated three families on acreages within a mile perimeter of the derailment, about three kilometres east of Hwy 2A and Blackfalds.

“There was propane fumes that were expelled so they just did it as a precautionary measure. They are assuring the public there is absolutely no danger,” Svendsen said Saturday afternoon while CN crews were still working to fix the leak.

She did not know how much propane had leaked out.

The tank with butane and one of the propane tanks remained upright. The other three tanks landed on their side, including the leaking tank.

Tim Timmons, manager of corporate services with Lacombe County, said no one was injured.

“Three CN employees were on the train and they were able to leave the train without incident,” Timmons said.

A temporary evacuation centre was set up at the Lacombe County office.

As of late Saturday afternoon, none of the residents had visited the centre, some roads were still closed and work was continuing at the derailment site.