April 28, 2023 De Soto Fire Chief Chris Mussatti said he immediately wondered what the toppled railcars were carrying.
Source Firehouse.com News
When the call was dispatched about a derailed train in De Soto Thursday, many things went through the fire chief’s mind.
“What’s actually derailed? What’s in these containers? Because I know that they carry so many various chemicals, hydrocarbons you name it. There’s telling what actually got hurt, what didn’t get hurt, and what’s leaking. All the things that run through your mind,” De Soto Chief Chris Mussatti told reporters.
Two cars carrying paint went into the Mississippi River, but they have since been secured to the bank. Other cars carrying lithium-ion batteries and oxygen containers are on shore.
“At this time, the response is no hazard to the public. There is no hazardous material we are concerned about for public safety,” Jim Hackett, Crawford County Director of Emergency Management, said.
Four railroad workers on the train were transported for treatment.
Hacket praised this community response from volunteer fire and EMS fire companies saying it was ‘nothing short of amazing.’
He added that he was impressed not only by the number of volunteers who responded but how fast they initiated incident command. “It also was nothing short of phenomenal.”