The evacuation order for five properties in a rural area in East Kootenay, British Columbia, has been lifted following a train derailment east of Cranbrook. The Regional District of East Kootenay announced on Saturday evening that residents were permitted to return home as authorities determined there was no longer a threat to public safety. The evacuation order had been in effect since around 12:30 p.m. for an area northwest of Bull River along the Kootenay River and Fenwick Road.
The district had also declared a state of local emergency due to the derailment, which has now been rescinded, citing a potential risk to people and property in Electoral Area C. The incident occurred around 7 a.m. in a remote location approximately 16 kilometers east of Cranbrook, as reported by Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC). CPKC confirmed that while there were no injuries, approximately 12 cars, including those carrying wood products and propane tankers, were involved in the derailment.
CPKC mentioned that response teams and equipment were deployed to the site for a comprehensive assessment and cleanup operation. Christina Carbrey, the director of the district’s emergency operations center, emphasized that the evacuation order was issued as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of residents in the immediate vicinity. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has dispatched two investigators to inspect the site, while the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) stated they were informed of the incident at 9:30 a.m. and referred additional inquiries to CPKC and the TSB as the primary investigators.