MCV/FA Safety Train

"RailStorm 2000" Safety Train

North County FireFighters Participate in Rail 2000

By Susan P. Bush Berkshire Eagle Staff. NORTH ADAMS- Freight trains carrying hazardous materials ride the rails of Nothern Berkshire County communties everyday,and thanks to an innovative training program,area firefighters are now better prepared to handle a derailment of hazardous material transport cars. "RailStorm 2000" was presented to North Adams, Clarksburg, Williamstown, Florida, Hinsdale and Adams firefighters this weekend by John R. O'Neill,manager of the Safety Train program,which arranges for the training sessions,and John Law,director of Safety for Gilford Railroad.

The three-day training session was held alongside railroad tracks situated to the west of the North Adams Transcript building on America Legion Drive. Developed in the mid-'90s the Safety Train program utilizes a five-car train made up of three tank cars,one boxcar used as a classroom, and a caboose,which provides lavatory facitiies.Firefighters spend time in the classroom learning how to identify various markings on the tankcar,who contact in the event of a derailment or only emergency,and how to determine what substance maybe contained in or leaking from a derailed car. Hans-on training involving the tankcars is included in the program as well. An overturned railroad tankcar may contain as much as four trailtruck loads of hazardous materials, O'Neill said. The local fire department is often first to arrive at a scene where a hazardous material may be leaking", O'Neill said. "The first minutes at any scene,whether it's a house fire or rail incident, are often the most important. An incorrect assessment early on could ultimately cost an emergency responder his life. In most cases, our local departments are inadequately prepared for a hazardous material disaster, and the equipment is not available to train them. Inhaling fumes or gases from leaking cars can be fatal, O'Neill said, and knowing whats is coming from a derailed car can prevent firefighters from inadvertently exposing themself to dangerous fumes. "We want them to be able to stop and assess the situation", O'Neill said.

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