CN Rail is apologizing to the residents of Gainford, Alta., as one of its trains burns near the small town that lies along the Yellowhead highway west of Edmonton.
About 100 residents of the rural area between Wabanum and Isle lakes were evacuated as 13 derailed cars, four containing crude oil and nine, pressurized liquid petroleum gas, burn off to a point where it will be safe for fire crews to attend the scene.
Highway 16 remains closed about an hour west of Edmonton since the derailment early on October 19 and will remain blocked until the fire is out say RCMP.
The rail line leads west to Hinton and Jasper and east to Edmonton. Highway 16 traffic is being rerouted to secondary roads 765, 775 and 633.
