[August 27, 2014]

1,200 Minnesota First Responders Trained by BNSF This Year

BNSF Railway announced today it has trained 1,200 Minnesota first responders in community hazmat training sessions held throughout the state this year and the railroad is sending another 130 Minnesota firefighters to specialized crude by rail training at the national railroad research and training facility in Pueblo, CO. Those classes began in July and continue through the end of the year. Firefighters from several communities, including St. Paul, Minneapolis, Brainerd (News - Alert), Winona, Long Lake, Moorhead, Detroit Lakes, Perham and Little Falls have already returned from the Colorado training. Raw video footage from the three-day training class is available at: http://www.vimeo.com/BNSFRailway/training

BNSF Railway is underwriting the travel and training expenses for more than 750 first responders across its network 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. Providing training at the national center is one of the steps the railroad agreed to voluntarily earlier this year in its ongoing efforts to improve the safety of crude-by-rail and to work with communities on emergency preparedness.

For decades BNSF has held the community hazmat training exercises for first responders. On average BNSF trains 3,500 local first responders each year across its network, with 65,000 responders trained since 1996. In Minnesota this year, BNSF worked with 1,200 first responders in over 20 training sessions throughout the state.

About BNSF

BNSF Railway is one of North America's leading freight transportation companies operating on 32,500 route miles of track in 28 states and two Canadian provinces. BNSF is one of the top transporters of consumer goods, grain, and agricultural products, low-sulfur coal and industrial goods such as petroleum, chemicals, housing materials, food and beverages. BNSF's shipments help feed, clothe, supply, and power American homes and businesses every day. BNSF and its employees have developed one of the most technologically advanced, and efficient railroads in the industry. We work continuously to improve the value of the safety, service, energy, and environmental benefits we provide to our customers and the communities we serve. You can learn more about BNSF at www.BNSF.com.

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]