Kentucky Train Derailment Triggers Chemical Leak and Fire Incident
A derailed CSX train leaked a flammable chemical and ignited a fire in a rural area of southern Kentucky on Tuesday. This incident prompted local authorities to issue a shelter-in-place order for nearby residents, which has since been lifted.
The derailment occurred at approximately 6:15 a.m. CST in Todd County, resulting in 31 rail cars going off the tracks. According to a statement from CSX, one of the rail cars leaked molten sulfur, leading to the fire that was extinguished by late Tuesday morning.
Emergency crews on-site were committed to cleaning up the area “as safely and quickly as possible,” CSX reported. The company expressed gratitude for the prompt response and coordination from local first responders and emergency management officials. “Our primary focus continues to be the health and safety of onsite personnel, the surrounding community, and mitigating any potential risk to the environment,” they stated.
The leaked chemical can be toxic when ignited, but air quality testing conducted at the derailment site indicated that “everything is good now,” according to Ash Groves, the emergency management director for Todd County. As a precaution, authorities had initially issued a half-mile shelter-in-place order around the affected area.
The derailment took place about one mile (1.6 kilometers) west of downtown Trenton, which is located approximately 55 miles (88.5 kilometers) northwest of Nashville, Tennessee.
Photo: Emergency personnel at the scene in Todd County on Dec. 30. (WEKT via AP)
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A derailed CSX train leaked a flammable chemical and ignited a fire in a rural area of southern Kentucky on Tuesday. This incident prompted local authorities to issue a shelter-in-place order for nearby residents, which has since been lifted.
The derailment occurred at approximately 6:15 a.m. CST in Todd County, resulting in 31 rail cars going off the tracks. According to a statement from CSX, one of the rail cars leaked molten sulfur, leading to the fire that was extinguished by late Tuesday morning.
Emergency crews on-site were committed to cleaning up the area “as safely and quickly as possible,” CSX reported. The company expressed gratitude for the prompt response and coordination from local first responders and emergency management officials. “Our primary focus continues to be the health and safety of onsite personnel, the surrounding community, and mitigating any potential risk to the environment,” they stated.
The leaked chemical can be toxic when ignited, but air quality testing conducted at the derailment site indicated that “everything is good now,” according to Ash Groves, the emergency management director for Todd County. As a precaution, authorities had initially issued a half-mile shelter-in-place order around the affected area.
The derailment took place about one mile (1.6 kilometers) west of downtown Trenton, which is located approximately 55 miles (88.5 kilometers) northwest of Nashville, Tennessee.
Photo: Emergency personnel at the scene in Todd County on Dec. 30. (WEKT via AP)
Copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Topics
Kentucky
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