LOUISVILLE, KY. (WDRB) -- Officials say another shelter-in-place order may be required for residents within five miles of the train derailment site over the weekend.
Authorities said on Saturday morning that they plan to move two tank cars containing hydrogen fluoride as early as noon; that movement would require putting into place the shelter-in-place order for the five mile radius. However, the timetable for such actions was tentative.
"Shelter-in-place" means people in the affected area should stay indoors, close doors and windows and turn off any heating or air conditioning systems that draw air from the outside into buildings. The move is a precaution should any chemicals leak during the removal work.
It's been a long week for residents in the West Point and southwest Jefferson County areas. Hundreds have been evacuated from their homes in West Point and a portion of Dixie Highway is still shut down.
After Wednesday's explosion, the car containing butadiene continues to burn. It's a controlled burn, and officials say the state of the environment is good as they continue to do extensive air monitoring.
Chief Dave Goldsmith, Louisville Mama Commander, says, "It's just on a car-by-car basis. They estimate somewhere between two and four hours per car. So if that's any indication, it could be awhile."
Officials say they are making progress clearing the site, but are still taking precautions.
"The Hydrogen Fluoride is the chemical that first responders are most concerned about and makes the greatest risk for the community as well as the responders themselves," says Louisville Metro Emergency Management Director Doug Hamilton.
On Wednesday at the site, a butadiene care burst into flames injuring three men.
Two R.J. Corman railroad workers are still at University Hospital. We're told both are from the St. Louis area.
A man from the Paducah area that was working for P&L Railway was also injured.
"He was actually a contractor for us, not an employee, but he is out of the hospital and his injures are relatively minor," says Tony Reck, the CEO for P&L Railway.
The CEO of P&L Railway, Tony Reck, says he stopped by the site Friday to check on the progress.
A 1.2 mile evacuation radius is still in place while air and Ohio River traffic restrictions have now been lifted.
Reck says, as for the derailment, his workers didn't notice anything unusual beforehand.
"The train crew which would be the conductor and locomotive engineer have been interviewed by the FRA and NTSB and no, the first thing they knew was when the train went into emergency," says Tony Reck.
He says now the focus is getting the cars removed and making sure it is safe for people to go back home. He wasn't able to say when that could be.
"I'd be guessing, because things have actually happened that we didn't plan on. If we get a good break you don't know. If you get a bad break, you don't know. It's just total speculation," says Tony Reck.
Evacuees can go to the VFW Post on Blevins Gap Road for reimbursement for expenses such as food and lodging.
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