News

On Tuesday afternoon, Governor Dayton announced that the City of Moorhead will receive $100,000 to expand the capabilities of the Fire Department hazardous materials response team.  During a roundtable discussion on railroad safety at Minnesota State University Moorhead, the subject of increasing train traffic and crude oil shipments through the state was a major focus of the conversation.

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety funds a network of small hazardous materials teams across the state.  Public and private entities operate under contract with the state to provide emergency response in the event of chemical emergencies.  The primary role of these “Chemical Assessment Teams” is to evaluate the hazards presented by the incident, and intervene in smaller incidents to stop the release. Moorhead Fire has operated one of these teams since 1996 (see included response area map).

The 2013 crude oil derailment in Casselton, North Dakota has illustrated that large-scale chemical incidents do occur.  For larger incidents, the State maintains one hazardous materials “Emergency Response Team,” located in St. Paul.  A response to Moorhead would require approximately four hours of travel time before the team could begin setting up for operations.  The Moorhead Fire Department will soon become the State’s second Emergency Response Team, significantly reducing response times and increasing mitigation capabilities across the western portion of Minnesota.

Several details have yet to be determined as contracts are being prepared between the City and State including: an official start date to provide upgraded services, the length of contract and what portions of the State will be served by the Moorhead Emergency Response Team.

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• Valley News Live - Governor and Residents Share Concerns Over Railroads  (Video Included)
• INFORUM - Dayton says railroads, oil firms must take some financial responsibility for rail safety
• City of Moorhead - Fire Department Trains in Crude Oil Railroad Fires