Iowa Officials End Derailment Evacuations

Officials have ended evacuations forced by the derailment of 22 rail cars in far northwest Iowa.

Twenty-two cars had derailed Sunday morning, including one that spilled liquefied petroleum gas. Fears of a resulting explosion or fire prompted evacuations within a mile of the site two miles south of Lester. No injuries were reported.

Lyon County emergency management coordinator Wayne Jepsen said Monday afternoon that a berm was built up around the only car that leaked. BNSF hazardous-materials workers made a hole in the car so the liquid could spill out. Then the gas was set on fire.

Jepsen says BNSF workers will monitor the fire until the material burns away. He says the Iowa Natural Resources Department will check for any environmental issues that remain.