Oil Train Fires Require SWAT Teams, Veteran Firefighters Tell States
A pair of Texans with decades of firefighting experience is encouraging state and local government leaders to consider establishing SWAT-like response teams for crude oil train fires.
A series of derailments of trains loaded with crude oil in the past year has exposed numerous safety vulnerabilities, including the integrity of the rail cars, the condition of the tracks and the way the trains are operated.
It’s also revealed a yawning gap in emergency response. Most fire departments across the country are simply not trained or equipped to fight the enormous fires seen in recent derailments.
More: HARRISBURG, Pa.: Oil Train Fires Require SWAT Teams, Veteran Firefighters Tell States