BNSF Railway underwrites expenses for more than 700 first responders taking crude oil transport training

PUEBLO, Colo.–Local emergency responders from 12 US states are attending a three-day, hands-on field training exercise that will give them specialized training for managing incidents related to crude trains. The training is being conducted at the railroad industry’s private training and research center in Pueblo, Colo. BNSF Railway is underwriting the travel and training expenses for more than 700 first responders for the 2014 training season to help ensure first responders are well-equipped to address the unique characteristics associated with the movement of crude-by-rail in the communities it services. The three-day classes started in July and will continue through December.

The railway is distributing via satellite feed at 4:00 p.m. MDT on Friday, Aug. 1, raw footage and interviews from one of the first training sessions this season. The raw footage will include training for techniques specific to a crude oil incident, a demonstration of foam application and hazmat professionals in the classroom.

Emergency responders from around the country arrived at the Transportation Technology Center, Inc. (TTCI) earlier this week to learn from the three-day, hands-on field training with an emergency exercise specialized for railroads, said a release.