North Dakota train collision ignites oil cars; fire to burn out

From:  CNN

By Steve Almasy, CNN

updated 10:05 PM EST, Mon December 30, 2013

Two trains collide in North Dakota

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• NEW: Sheriff urges residents to leave town because winds are expected to shift
• Fire will take 12 hours to burn itself out
• Officials aren't sure if one train derailed before the accident
• Smoke can be seen in Fargo, 25 miles away

(CNN) -- A wreck involving two trains, one of which was carrying crude oil, sparked a large fire Monday that sent huge flames and dangerous smoke into the sky, North Dakota authorities said.

There were no reports of injuries from the accident, said Sgt. Tara Morris with the Cass County Sheriff's Office, but "with the oil on fire there are hazardous conditions, and we are directing all people in the area to shelter in-place and stay indoors."

Firefighters will be forced to let the fire burn out, which may take as long as 12 hours from the time of the accident (2:12 p.m. CT), because they cannot get close enough to the flames, she told CNN.

The incident occurred one mile west of Casselton, a town of 2,300 residents about 25 miles west of Fargo. Huge plumes of smoke could be seen in Fargo, Morris said.  MORE