46 S.O.G. 

SECTION: Firefighting

SUBJECT: Railroad Emergencies

REVISED: 05/2002

PURPOSE:

                        To establish guidelines for the notification and safety of personnel while handling emergency railroad incidents.

POLICY:

A.                The fire department shall follow these guidelines in the handling of emergency incidents on the railroad to insure the proper handling of the incident and the safety of personnel and citizens.

PROCEDURE:

A.                UPON ARRIVAL

1.      Have Dispatch notify Railroad dispatcher of the exact location of the incident and request a railroad representative respond.

2.      Request assistance as may be necessary to handle the emergency.

3.      Have a lighted flare placed on the tracks (in the center, between the rails) one-half (1/2) mile in each direction of the incident.  This will notify on-coming trains to stop.  Someone should stand by as a flag person with the flare until you are notified that on-coming trains have been stopped or diverted.

4.      Request Police assistance, if necessary.

5.      Coordinate with the train conductor, engineer and/or any available railroad personnel at the scene.

6.      If cars other than the engine are involved, obtain a copy of the shipping papers (these are often kept in the engine) to determine the nature of the cargo.

B.                 SAFETY

1.      Responding personnel shall wear protective clothing in accordance with the emergency situation and Fire Department guidelines.

2.      Personnel should be aware that diesel electric train engines carry from 100 to 250 gallons of P.C.B. in their electric generators.

3.      Some situations involving cargo fires (when the cargo is of a hazardous nature) may dictate evacuation of the immediate and/or surrounding area.

C.                ENGINE FIRES

1.      Coordinate with the conductor and engineer.

2.      Use CO2 on electrical fires.

3.      Diesel engines utilize considerable quantities of diesel fuel on board.  Handle these fires as you would a combustible liquid fire.

4.      Full protective clothing and SCBA’s shall be worn.

D.                TANK CAR FIRES AND LEAKS

1.      Identify the product, if possible.

2.      Be guided by the nature of the product.  If hazardous materials are involved, seek technical assistance from Chem Tree, Hazardous Materials Guidebooks, County Hazardous Materials Response Team, etc.  USE EXTREME CAUTION.

3.      Wear full protective gear and SCBA’s.

4.      When hazardous materials are involved, proceed according to the nature of the hazard.  A DEFENSIVE MODE MAY BE CALLED FOR RATHER THAN AN OFFENSIVE MODE.

5.      Evacuation may be necessary.

E.                  BOX CAR FIRES

1.      Identify the product; if a hazardous material is involved, proceed according to the nature of the involved product.

2.      When normal materials are involved, protect exposures, disconnect the car and separate it from the rest of the train, if possible.

3.      Cool the exterior of the car and try to determine where the hottest area of the car might be.

4.      Cool the underside of the car.

5.      Normally an indirect attack is best.  This is accomplished by the following:

a.     Determine, if possible, the hottest area of the car.

b.     Ladder the car and punch a small hole in the roof of the car over the hottest area.

c.     Use a fog or cellar nozzle through the hole to affect an indirect attack.

6.      Full protective clothing and SCBA’s shall be worn.