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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Evacuated Residents Get To Go Home

Compiled From Wire Services

Residents locked out of their city for nearly three weeks because of a train derailment and propane fire will return home today, officials said Thursday.

“This time they’re coming in their cars and they’re coming in to stay,” said Wisconsin National Guard 2nd Lt. Gary Thompson.

In recent days, the city’s 1,700 residents were bused in to check their homes for safety, but weren’t allowed to stay. Residents were given the go-ahead to return home after officials repaired a leak and restored pressure to the city’s water system.

This entire central Wisconsin city was evacuated after 35 cars in a Wisconsin Central Ltd. train derailed March 4. Fourteen of the cars contained liquid propane. The leaking fuel erupted in a fire that continued for days, threatening a massive explosion.