A fire that burned several CN freight cars on the banks of the Fraser River in Prince George was still alight Saturday night, but under control, an official said.

Water bombers were used in the efforts to put out the fire.
(David Mah/Canadian Press)

Earlier Saturday, orange flames shot higher than trees after a train derailed and collided with another train in the CN yard near the city.

Three engines from one train and four cars from the other derailed. Several cars — including one tanker — and one engine apparently burned.

Health officials issued a voluntary evacuation order for people living nearby. No one was hurt in the collision.

Water bombers were called in to help fight the fire, CBC reporter Chris Walker reported from the scene. However, they were not successful.

"The diesel fuel hisses like a barbecue as it escapes and burns," he said.

RCMP Const. Gary Godwin told CBC News that CN had removed tank cars from the scene, minimizing the chance of a toxic spill.

Most of the cars were carrying lumber, Godwin said.

Emergency crews and hazardous materials teams were called to the scene. Crowds of people watched the smoke rise from the wreck as RCMP stopped reporters about 800 metres from the scene, saying it was too dangerous to continue.

"It looks pretty messy here from across the river," Godwin said.

Smoke and flames from burning fuel pour from a train after two trains collided on the banks of the Fraser River in Prince George, B.C., Saturday.
(David Mah/Canadian Press)

Hundreds of people watched the fire from a park across the river from the scene until police closed it, fearing the tank car containing diesel could explode.

The accident happened at 10 a.m. PT on a section of track in the CN yard across from downtown Prince George.

Some gasoline has leaked into the Fraser River and small slicks could be seen swirling downstream. However, the health officials said it does not pose a risk.

CN spokesman Jim Feeney said the company's safety record has improved since 2005, and it's too early to compare Saturday's fire with a 2005 derailment near Squamish that spilled a toxic chemical into the Cheakamus River, killing an estimated 500,000 fish.

On Friday, CN was charged with five counts under federal and B.C. environmental legislation resulting from the spill.

 

With files from the Canadian Press