ROCKWOOD — Emergency workers are at the scene of a train derailment involving several cars and fire about 30 miles east of Jackman in northeast Somerset County, according to Rockwood Fire & Rescue.
The department posted on its Facebook page around 2:30 p.m. Saturday that hazardous materials are involved, though the post doesn’t specify what type of materials. The post asks people to “please stay clear.”
Commenters on the post say the derailment happened near Brassua Lake in northeast Somerset County. A photo accompanying the social media post shows cars off the track in a snowy region near a body of water.
First responders say the derailment is 3 miles east of Demo Road Bridge and multiple cars are off the track. Crews are using heavy equipment to clear a snowmobile trail to get access to the scene, it says. The Maine Forest Service is using a helicopter to drop water on the fire.
Rockwood is in the north-central part of the state in a mostly rural area. It’s near Moosehead Lake, one of the largest bodies of freshwater in the state.
The derailment is the latest one to plague the rail industry. Federal regulators and members of Congress are urging railroads to do more to prevent derailments after recent fiery wrecks involving hazardous chemicals in Ohio and Minnesota prompted evacuations.
This story will be updated.
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