Union Pacific Railroad Conducts Crude-by-Rail Safety Training Course for Emergency Responders from 17 States

OMAHA, Neb., April 29, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Union Pacific Railroad conducted training for 80 emergency response personnel from 17 states April 8 - 10 and April 20 - 22. The training focused on sharpening the emergency responders' skills to better prepare them in the unlikely event of a crude-by-rail incident in or near their respective communities.

Union Pacific proactively reaches out to fire departments as well as other emergency responders along its lines to offer comprehensive training to first responders in communities where the railroad operates. The company annually trains approximately 2,500 local, state and federal first-responders on ways to minimize the impact of a potential derailment. Union Pacific has trained nearly 38,000 public responders and almost 7,500 private responders (shippers and contractors) since 2003. This includes classroom and hands-on training. In 2014, the railroad trained 314 emergency responders specifically on crude-by-rail transportation.

The recently completed training covered a variety of safety subjects, including identification of tank car types that transport crude; tank car fittings; tank car construction; chemical and physical properties of the different types of crude oil; and crude oil response precautions. Participants received hands-on experience in assessing tank car damage; making certain on-site repairs; controlling the release of crude oil from damaged rail cars; and crude oil fire suppression techniques.

Class members participated in a simulated crude oil fire. The simulation helped students understand how the railroad would work with them in an emergency, and how to work safely while on railroad property.

The three-day, 24-hour courses were held at the Association of American Railroads' Transportation Technology Center near Pueblo, Colorado. Union Pacific paid for all attendees' expenses, with no cost to communities or organizations.

Emergency response personnel from the following organizations attended the course:

• Arkansas:Malvern Fire Department, MalvernCabot Fire Department, Cabot
• California:Modesto Fire Department, ModestoManteca Fire Department, MantecaWest Sacramento Fire Department, West SacramentoCal Fire, OrovilleCal Fire, GridleyLodi Fire Department, LodiVernon Fire Department, VernonTracy Fire Department, TracySanta Barbara County Fire Department, Santa BarbaraSuisun Fire Protection District, Fairfield Chico Fire Department, ChicoSacramento Fire Department, SacramentoLincoln Fire Department, Lincoln
• Illinois:Crete Township Fire Department, Crete South Holland Fire Department, South HollandValmeyer Fire Department, ValmeyerDupo Volunteer Fire Department, DupoBarrington Fire Department, Barrington
• Iowa Iowa Falls Fire Department, Iowa FallsClinton Fire Department, ClintonSioux City Fire and Rescue, Sioux City
• Kansas: Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical Department, Lawrence
• Louisiana: West Baton Rouge Fire Protection District 1, Port AllenSt. George Fire Department, Baton Rouge
• Minnesota: Northfield Area Fire and Rescue, NorthfieldPlymouth Fire Department, PlymouthLittle Canada Fire Department, Little CanadaHopkins Fire Department, HopkinsInver Grove Heights Fire Department, Inver Grove HeightsBelle Plaine Fire Department, Belle PlaineBird Island Fire Department, Bird Island
• Missouri: Sikeston Department of Public Safety, SikestonKirkwood Fire Department, KirkwoodSt. Louis Fire Department, St. Louis
• Nebraska: Bellevue Fire Department, BellevueSutherland Fire & Rescue, Sutherland
• Nevada: Elko Fire Department, ElkoNorth Las Vegas Fire Department, North Las VegasCarlin Volunteer Fire Department, CarlinSparks Fire Department, Sparks
• Oregon: Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue, TualatinKeno Fire Department, Klamath Falls
• Tennessee: Memphis Fire Department, MemphisCollierville Fire Department, Collierville
• Texas: Pittsburg Fire Department, PittsburgArgyle Fire District, ArgyleTemple Fire & Rescue, Temple
• Utah: Lehi Fire Department, LehiWest Jordan Fire Department, West JordanCedar Fort Fire Department, Cedar FortSalt Lake City Fire Department, Salt Lake City
• Washington: Tacoma Fire Department, Tacoma
• Wisconsin: West Allis Fire Department, West Allis
• Wyoming: Rock Springs Fire Department, Rock SpringsLaramie County Fire District 1, Cheyenne

Future crude-by-rail courses will be held:

• May 13 - 15
• October 14 - 16
• November 4 - 6

About Union Pacific

Union Pacific Railroad is the principal operating company of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP). One of America's most recognized companies, Union Pacific Railroad connects 23 states in the western two-thirds of the country by rail, providing a critical link in the global supply chain. From 2005-2014, Union Pacific invested more than $31 billion in its network and operations to support America's transportation infrastructure.  The railroad's diversified business mix includes Agricultural Products, Automotive, Chemicals, Coal, Industrial Products and Intermodal. Union Pacific  serves many of the fastest-growing U.S. population centers, operates from all major West Coast and Gulf Coast ports to eastern gateways, connects with Canada's rail systems and is the only railroad serving all six major Mexico gateways. Union Pacific provides value to its roughly 10,000 customers by delivering products in a safe, reliable, fuel-efficient and environmentally responsible manner.

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SOURCE Union Pacific Railroad