RIPLEY, N.Y. – A Norfolk Southern freight train derailed in the town of Ripley Tuesday evening, keeping roughly 100 residents out of their homes throughout Wednesday.

Emergency responders rushed to the scene of a 16-car derailment between South State and Shaver streets around 9:45 p.m. Tuesday. Two cars hauling ethanol spewed as crews braved the winter elements to contain the spill. One car carrying propane tipped on its side, but wasn’t found to be leaking.

The cause of the incident is under investigation by the Federal Railroad Administration and the state Department of Transportation. Dave Pidgeon, spokesman for Norfolk Southern, said the investigation will progress through its natural course.

“It’s just not appropriate for me to comment on any kind of speculation or investigation,” he said.

Roughly 50 homes were evacuated after the incident due to the dangers posed from the ethanol leak. County Executive Vince Horrigan said those who were displaced from their homes were offered the opportunity to spend Wednesday night in a hotel as cleanup continued through the evening. Ripley Central School was also closed for the day.

“We offered people another night in a hotel just to give that extra time to make sure everything is completely safe before they return to their homes,” he said.

Federal, state and local agencies spent Wednesday in recovery and cleanup mode while railroad maintenance crews repaired a portion of the track. The HAZMAT team spent the day transferring the remaining gas from the derailed tankers to trucks. Ripley fire crews remained on the scene as the hazardous material was extracted. Train cars were towed away once they were uprighted by heavy equipment.

Julius Leone, county emergency services director, said no injuries were reported. A state of emergency was declared in the town Wednesday morning.

“We certainly had the prospect of catastrophe. We had the right kind of chemicals that could have made it different in the outcome of this incident,” Leone said.

Leone said they believe 1-2 gallons of ethanol leaked per minute, releasing 5,000-10,000 gallons of gas.

“It probably went on for hours,” he said.

The four train tracks running through the town were closed for a period time. A track reopened late Wednesday morning for CSX traffic.

South State and Shaver streets were shut down throughout the evening. Doug Bowen, Ripley town supervisor, said Shaver Street will be closed for the next few days to allow for the repair of damaged railroad crossing controls.

Overall, Horrigan said he was impressed with the rapid response from volunteer fire companies as well as local, state and federal agencies.

“We have come together to handle a situation that was potentially dangerous, and it’s been done professionally and safely,” he said.

In total, Pidgeon said the train coming from Bellevue, Ohio, consisted of two locomotives and 34 rail cars.

CONTAINING THE SPILL

Leone said crews contained the spill by blanketing the ethanol with foam equipment that the Emergency Services Department received a few weeks ago. Foam trailers were distributed throughout New York to respond to railroad incidents involving crude oil. Leone said he believes this was the first time the foam equipment was utilized in the state.

“We’re fortunate to have it at our disposal,” Leone said. “We brought another unit from Olean and we were able to bring it under control.”

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Coast Guard and county Environmental Department surveyed the area for contamination in waterways and wells. Mark Smith, fire chief for the Ripley Volunteer Fire Department, said crews dammed area waterways to prevent any contamination threats.

RESPONSE FROM OFFICIALS

U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., applauded the first responders who worked tirelessly throughout the night to keep the community safe. While the cause of the derailment is still unknown, Schumer said Tuesday’s incident serves as a glaring reminder that “we must remain vigilant in making continual and meaningful improvements to rail safety and hazardous response planning.”

“Increased railroad inspections, improved coordination and communication with local first responders, and technological improvements in rail car and track design can often make the world of difference in preventing tragedy,” he said.

Schumer said he’ll work closely with investigators to determine the cause of the accident. Schumer said he’s also working to improve rail safety throughout Upstate New York.

U.S. Rep. Tom Reed, R-C-I-Corning, said his office spent Wednesday coordinating with local, state and federal officials to address the situation appropriately.

“We care about the Ripley community and all those impacted by the train derailment,” he said. “We remain committed to ensuring the safety of area residents. We stand ready to assist all those impacted by this incident. We also extend our sincerest thanks to our first responders for their professionalism and dedication to our communities.”

Democratic Congressional candidate John Plumb, D-Jamestown, posted the following on Twitter: “Thoughts with Ripley and the brave men and women who faced the snow and freezing rain to protect the community. Be safe.”

State Sen. Cathy Young, R-C-I-Olean, said it’s a miracle that no one was hurt from the accident.

“It’s times like these that remind us how fortunate we are to have such outstanding first responders,” she said. “It is unfortunate that so many families have been displaced and I am hopeful they are safely back in their homes shortly. We thank everyone for their leadership, professionalism and cooperation.”

PAST TRAIN INCIDENTS

Tuesday’s train derailment in Ripley isn’t the first of its kind in Chautauqua County. Sixty train cars derailed near the Chautauqua County Home in 1995. Eighteen cars contained hazardous material, according to Dan Imfeld, county HAZMAT coordinator.

In February 2007, a CSX train derailed in Westfield en route to Buffalo. Eight of the 38 cars went off track.

In December 1977, 11 coal cars derailed in Dunkirk near Washington Avenue and Third Street. The 113-car train was traveling from Conway, Pa., en route to a railroad yard in the town of Sheridan where coal was stored for Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation.

In June 1972, a Norfolk & Western Railroad freight train derailed east of the Shaver Street crossing in Ripley. Fifteen cars at the end of the 78-car train were dislodged when a coal car left the tracks. Five of the derailed cars carried automobiles.