RAILROAD TO SPONSOR TRAINING SESSIONS ON HAZARDOUS MATERIALS

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- A unique, Burlington Northern Railroad freight train is coming to Cape Girardeau Thursday to give area firefighters "hands-on" training with hazardous materials accidents.

The Cape Girardeau Fire Department is hosting the two training sessions on hazardous materials incident response. The sessions are are sponsored by the Burlington Northern's Safety and Rules Department from Springfield, Mo.

The first four-hour session begins at 1 p.m. The second starts at 6 p.m. Cape Girardeau Fire Chief Gene Hindman said the evening session was scheduled to allow those who work during the day to attend.

Hindman said this is the first time this type of emergency training has been offered in Cape Girardeau. The training program involving the train was last presented by the BN in 1984 in Chaffee.

"It's not often that specialized training of this type is offered, at no charge, right on our doorstep. We certainly appreciate the Burlington Northern's commitment of personnel and equipment," the chief commented.

BN spokesman, Denis C. Christianson, himself a former firefighter, said the training is designed to save lives and prevent injury to those who respond to a hazardous materials incident involving rail cars.

"There is a right way and a wrong way to respond to this type of an emergency. Those who attend the program will know how to respond the safe way," he said.

Hindman said he's already received reservations from 13 fire departments, including Dexter, Cairo, Ill., Sikeston, Perryville, Cape Girardeau County rural fire districts, and the Procter and Gamble Company plant in Cape County.

Hindman said invitations have been sent out to fire departments and other agencies in Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois.

"If anyone did not receive an invitation, and would like to attend one of the sessions, please contact our office in Cape Girardeau (1-314-334-3211) to register," the chief said.

Hindman said each session is divided into two-hour classroom periods, followed by two hours of instruction on the rail cars.

Hindman said the afternoon session will begin with the two-hour classroom period in the Fire Department's Training Room at Fire Station Number One, located at Sprigg and Independence.

Because of lighting requirements, the evening session will begin with the two-hour instruction at the train, followed by the classroom portion at the fire station.

"Those attending the evening session should meet first at Fire Station Number One," the chief said. "From there, we will go as a group to where the train has been spotted on the BN tracks."

Christianson said the train will consist of a locomotive coupled to a mechanical refrigerator, covered hopper, sulphuric acid, anhydrous ammonia, and alcohol rail cars.

The train began its tour April 2, in Pensacola, Fla. Other stops through May 1 include Birmingham, Memphis, Blytheville, Cape Girardeau, Festus, Rolla, Springfield, and Joplin.