MALTA, Mont. — About 50 people were voluntarily evacuated and U.S. Highway 2 was closed for more than five hours after a westbound freight train, including tankers containing a poisonous and flammable chemical, derailed near here.
"Our hazardous material team inspected the cars and it was determined we had no leaks," Gus Melonas, a Burlington Northern Santa Fe spokesman, said Tuesday. "The people can go home and the highway was reopened," Melonas said. "It does not appear there will have to be further evacuations."
Seven cars from the westbound BNSF train derailed a mile east of Malta, and residents were moved back a half-mile. No injuries were reported, but sparks from the derailing train created small fires for several miles.