5,000 evacuated near Knoxville after train carrying toxic gas catches fire

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published 2 July 2015

Over 5,000 residents in Maryville, Tennessee, have been evacuated after a freight train carrying "highly flammable and toxic gas" ran off the tracks and caught fire, NBC reports. The evacuation zone, which has been established just outside of Knoxville, has a radius of over two miles and could be in place for up to 48 hours, the fire department said.

The train was carrying acrylonitrile, which is used to manufacture acrylic fibers. When inhaled, the gas can cause membrane and kidney irritation, headaches, and nausea. Three train cars burst into flames after the derailment; seven officers were hospitalized after breathing the fumes.

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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.