HEIMDAL, N.D.-A tanker train carrying crude oil derailed near Heimdal, N.D., Wednesday morning, causing the evacuation of the town and surrounding farmsteads.
Six to ten of the rail cars burned, sending thick black smoke into the air about a mile and a half east of Heimdal. The town is about 80 miles southeast of Minot.
To see a photo gallery from the derailment and fire, click on the photo above and a slide show will expand.
1/Smoke from burning railroad tanker cars fills the valley at Heimdal, N.D., as rescue personnel stay a safe distance Wednesday, May 6, 2015. John Steiner / Forum News Service
2/A fireball sends thick black smoke billowing from burning railroad tanker cars at Heimdal, N.D., as rail and rescue officials stay back nearly a mile from the derailment. John Steiner / Forum News Service
3/North Dakota governor Jack Dalrymple (center) speaks with emergency response officials near the wreckage of several oil tanker cars that derailed in a field near the town of Heimdal on Wednesday, May 6, 2015. Andrew Cullen / Forum News Service
4/Smoke from the wreckage of several oil tanker cars that derailed in a field near the town of Heimdal, N.D. on Wednesday, May 6, 2015. Andrew Cullen / Forum News Service
5/Smoke from the wreckage of several oil tanker cars that derailed in a field near the town of Heimdal, N.D., on Wednesday, May 6, 2015. Andrew Cullen / Forum News Service
6/Smoke from the wreckage of several oil tanker cars that derailed in a field near the town of Heimdal, N.D., on Wednesday, May 6, 2015. Andrew Cullen / Forum News Service
7/A BNSF railroad employee enters his vehicle while smoke from the wreckage of several oil tanker cars that derailed in a field near the town of Heimdal, N.D., billows behind him on Wednesday, May 6, 2015. Andrew Cullen / Forum News Service
8/Thick black smoke rises from the oil train derailment near Heimdal in north central North Dakota on Wednesday afternoon. The derailment occurred about 7:30 a.m. and was still burning into the afternoon. Photo courtesy of Curt Benson.
9/Wells County Road Department worker Hugh Burton mans a roadblock west of Heimdal, N.D., after an oil train derailed there about 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 6, 2015. "Lot of smoke, lot of flame," he said after getting closer to the scene about 30 minutes after it happened. Photo by Mike Nowatzki / Forum News Service
10/Andrew Cullen / Forum News Service
11/Andrew Cullen / Forum News Service
12/North Dakota Rep. Kevin Cramer. Andrew Cullen / Forum News Service
13/North Dakota Governor Jack Dalrymple. Andrew Cullen / Forum News Service
14/Andrew Cullen / Forum News Service
15/Volunteer firefighters maintain a vigil near the scene of Wednesday's oil train derailment just outside of Heimdal, N.D., late Wednesday afternoon. Eric Hylden / Forum News Service
16/Emergency personnel work at the scene of Wednesday's oil train derailment adjacent to liquid propane tanks along the tracks near Heimdal, N.D. late Wednesday afternoon. Eric Hylden / Forum News Service
