By Greg Fry

CN Update

Cleanup continues after 27 CN railcars derail in Giscome

Mar 6, 2020 | 8:17 AM

PRINCE GEORGE — CN crews continue to respond to yesterday’s (March 5) derailment near Giscome Elementary School.

CN has also clarified how many cars derailed and the effect it’s had on the area.

Though CN originally said approximately 20 cars derailed with no leaks of product, things have changed with the company now saying 27 railcars derailed “carrying various commodities.”

“A small amount of Petroleum Coke, a non-hazardous by-product of the refining process, has spilled into an adjacent creek,” reads a statement released this morning from CN. “CN environmental experts as well as regulatory authorities have been deployed to oversee the physical removal of the product from the creek.”

Despite the leak, CN says that there is no danger to public safety and there are no fires or injuries at the site.

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The derailment, which occurred at approximately 9:30 a.m. yesterday, forced the evacuation of around 30 students and staff to nearby Willow River.

Giscome Elementary will remain closed today (March 6).

School District 57 says staff and students from the school will be re-routed to Blackburn Elementary for today. Buses will pick students up at their regular times and transport them to Blackburn Elementary.

Giscome students who live beyond Upper Fraser Road–which has been closed due to the derailment–will not be picked up, nor be expected to attend school. Students who attend Prince George Secondary and live beyond the road closure will not be transported by bus to and from school today. The District say as a result, students will not be expected to attend.