Author: Geoff Mohan

Firefighters continued to battle a stubborn tunnel fire Sunday that broke out when several cars of a freight train derailed near Bakersfield.

Several homes were evacuated when a tanker car carrying denatured alcohol burst into flames, authorities said.

There were no injuries in the accident, which happened about 9:30 p.m. Saturday at the entrance to a tunnel on the Tehachapi Loop south of Keene, the Kern County Fire Department said in a statement.

At least two cars came off the tracks and one of them caught fire, producing a toxic cloud, the statement said. At least two other cars were also on fire, said Lena Kent, a spokeswoman for BNSF Railway, which owns the train.

As a precaution, authorities evacuated homes within a mile of the incident Saturday. Fewer than 10 homes were affected, said Engineer Justin Corley, a Fire Department spokesman.  A temporary shelter was set up at Tehachapi High School.

The alcohol fire was contained to the tunnel and firefighters allowed it to burn out overnight, Corley said. But when it became apparent that a car containing plastic pellets had also caught fire at the entrance to the tunnel, they decided to move it out and spray it with foam to extinguish the flames.

“Alcohol is going to burn off very quickly, but the pellets will keep smoldering for some time,” Corley said.

Authorities extended the evacuation order Sunday to homes within a two-mile radius of the incident.

Corley said the burning plastic was “putting up a column of dark smoke.” A car containing cornmeal was also on fire Sunday, Kent said.

It wasn’t immediately clear whether the flames had spread to any other cars.

“We can’t get inside the tunnel to take a look because of the heat,” Corley said.

Authorities had not established what caused the train to derail. The train was traveling from Barstow to Stockton on Union Pacific tracks when the accident happened, Kent said.

Firefighters were being assisted by the Kern County Environmental Health Agency, the Kern County Sheriff’s Department, the California Highway Patrol and railroad crews.

— Alexandra Zavis

Photo: A freight train burns after derailing Saturday near Keene, Calif., about 15 miles east of Bakersfield. Credit: Kern
County Fire Department

 

Several homes were evacuated when a freight train derailed near Bakersfield and a tanker car carrying denatured alcohol burst into flames, authorities said Sunday.

There were no injuries in the accident, which happened at about 9.30 p.m. Saturday at the entrance to a tunnel on the Tehachapi Loop south of Keene, the Kern County Fire Department said in a statement.

Two tanker cars went off the tracks and one of them caught fire, producing a toxic cloud, said Engineer Justin Corley, a Fire Department spokesman.

As a precaution, authorities evacuated homes within a mile of the incident. Fewer than 10 homes were affected, Corley said. A temporary shelter was set up at Tehachapi High School.

When the fire did not burn out overnight, the evacuation order was extended Sunday to a 2-mile radius, Corley said.

“The fire is burning some plastics in the train car and putting up  a column of dark smoke,” Corley said.  “Our crews are working with railroad crews in order to remove cars from the entrance to the tunnel, so they can extinguish the flames.”

Firefighters were also being assisted by the Kern County Environmental Health Agency, the Kern County Sheriff’s Department and the California Highway Patrol.

— Alexandra Zavis

A magnitude 4.5 earthquake that shook Baja California on Sunday afternoon was also felt by residents in San Diego County.

The earthquake struck at 1:35 p.m. and was centered about 20 miles south of Tecate, Mexico. Three subsequent aftershocks were measured within the next hour.

The Associated Press reported that police and fire officials in El Cajon, Escondido and Kearny Mesa received no immediate reports of damage or injuries.

— Corina Knoll

Two men suspected of robbing a street vendor selling Valentine’s Day gift baskets were killed Sunday morning after their vehicle crashed into a parked car just south of downtown Los Angeles during a police pursuit, authorities said.

About 4:30 a.m., two men stole merchandise from a family-run vendor set up on the sidewalk at San Pedro Street and Adams Boulevard, Los Angeles Police Lt. Samuel Rhone said.

“The victims dialed 911, and while they were on the line with the operator, they observed the suspects circling the block,” he said.

After spotting the responding officers’ patrol cars, the suspects sped away, Rhone said. The police pursuit lasted less than a minute and ended when the suspects crashed their Nissan into a parked car near Central Avenue and 27th Street, he said.

Officers were a few blocks away at the time of the crash.

The men, who have not been identified, were ejected from the car and pronounced dead at the scene. No other injuries were reported.

[Updated at 1:40 p.m.: The men have been identified as Charlie Francisco, 18, and Christian Francisco, 20, said Dana Bee of the Los Angeles County coroner’s office. The two are residents of Los Angeles and are believed to be brothers.]

— Corina Knoll