4,800 homes evacuated as rail car burns
A tanker car of propane burns Tuesday in Lincoln, California.
August 24th, 2011
08:40 AM ET

4,800 homes evacuated as rail car burns

More than 4,800 families were out of their homes in Lincoln, California, on Wednesday morning as a railroad tank car loaded with propane burned nearby.

The tank car, loaded with about 29,000 gallons of propane, caught fire around noon Tuesday.

Firefighters were spraying the tank car with water to keep it cool but letting the propane burn off, Cal Fire spokesman Daniel Berlant said. Extinguishing the fire could allow a propane gas cloud to form that could cause further damage if it ignited, he said.

About 4,800 homes within a one-mile radius of the burning tank car were evacuated, Berlant said. Businesses within that radius were also closed, he said.

"The fire continues to burn. We're keeping it (the tank car) cool to keep the pressure as low as possible" to prevent an explosion, Berlant said.

The length of the evacuation depends on how long it takes for the propane to burn off, he said.

Berlant said the rail car had not derailed. It was sitting on a side track in a propane facility and was not connected to any other cars, he said.

The cause of the fire had not been determined, Berlant said.

Lincoln is in Placer County, California, north of Sacramento.

Read local coverage from CNN affiliate KXTV-TV.

 Post by:
Filed under: California
soundoff (72 Responses)
  1. jessica simpson photos nude

    I WANT TO MEET U

    August 24, 2011 at 2:58 pm | Report abuse |
  2. bobcat2u

    Burn baby burn--Disco inferno

    August 24, 2011 at 3:09 pm | Report abuse |
  3. WomenOnGuard

    I'm surprised no one was hurt! Wonder what caused it to explode to begin with... Not much detail in this article...

    August 24, 2011 at 3:20 pm | Report abuse |
  4. mandy lohof

    So if we had bigger government this would have never happend hahahahaha! You must be a government employee to say that!

    August 24, 2011 at 3:26 pm | Report abuse |
  5. raven

    Good thoughts to all the responders and citizens. Hope this mess gets resolved with no injuries or damages .

    August 24, 2011 at 3:38 pm | Report abuse |
  6. me

    omg! running around in circles screaming!

    August 24, 2011 at 5:17 pm | Report abuse |
  7. jjj

    Every president blames the guy before him bush blamed clinton for 911. When it happen on his watch another thing that happen on bush watch 2008 meltdown of our country republians all you do is blame the other side for ur screw ups man up

    August 24, 2011 at 5:20 pm | Report abuse |
  8. jjj

    Dam I step in it must be obmas fault I didn't look down give the man a chance one nation under god right

    August 24, 2011 at 5:22 pm | Report abuse |
  9. Jazzzzzzzz

    Ahhh, @ jj ... Why do ya have 3 J's now?

    August 24, 2011 at 5:58 pm | Report abuse |
  10. alexmaster

    THE ROOF! THE ROOF!... THE ROOF IS ON FIRE!!!

    August 24, 2011 at 11:10 pm | Report abuse |
  11. explosion

    this was clearly the set of the next michael bay movie.

    August 25, 2011 at 3:15 am | Report abuse |
1 2 3
« Back to main