UPDATE @ 5:33 p.m.: A worker suffered frostbite injuries when the cap on a railroad tanker car popped off and allowed Freon to escape, said Deputy Chief James Allen, Springfield Twp. Fire EMS.
The worker was trying to transfer the Freon from the rail car to a road trailer, which then goes to local businesses, Allen said. Pressure inside the tanker car built up and cracked the valve that was connected to the cap.
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Allen said how much Freon leaked could not be estimated. The tanker car will be taken back to where it came from to be weighed, which will help determine how much of the 177,000 pounds of gas leaked.
The location of the accident is pretty well isolated and so there was no concern about danger to the general public, the deputy chief said.
INITIAL REPORT
At least one person has reportedly been burned after a rail car tanker exploded on South Burnett Road in Springfield Twp., according to initial reports.
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The tanker was reportedly carrying up to 177,000 pounds of Freon gas when it exploded in the 1200 block of South Burnett Road around 2:10 p.m., according to emergency scanner traffic.
Initial reports indicate one person suffered burns in the incident. Their condition wasn’t immediately known.
Hazmat crews have been requested to the scene and reported the incident was an “active hazmat scene,” according to emergency scanner traffic.
We have a crew on the way and we’ll update this story as we learn more.