Reports say oil train caused fiery derailment in North Dakota

CASSELTON, N.D. (AP) — Officials say emergency crews are responding to a fiery train derailment near the eastern North Dakota town of Casselton. The train was carrying crude oil, according to news reports citing information from BNSF. Cass County Emergency Manager Dave Rogness says the derailment was reported about 2:30 p.m. Monday less than a mile from the city. Rogness says residents have been told to stay indoors as a precaution. He says there have been no reports of injuries to the train crew or residents. Rogness says crews on scene are reporting as many as a dozen rail cars carrying ethanol or oil left the tracks. Some of them burst into flames. Rogness says the derailment occurred near the city’s ethanol plant. About 75 people showed up for a hearing in Spokane earlier this month on a proposal to ship North Dakota crude oil through Spokane by train. Most of those who attended were opposed to the project, which calls for construction of an oil terminal at the Port of Vancouver that could result in up to four oil trains daily passing through Spokane.