Residents ordered to evacuate after train derailment causes fire in Minnesota

A freight train derailed early Thursday morning in Raymond, Minnesota, resulting in a fire as officials issued evacuation orders for residents living within a half mile of the incident site, Kandiyohi County Sheriff Eric Tollefson said. 

"Fire departments from Raymond and numerous area departments responded as several of the derailed tankers started on fire and were determined to be carrying a form of ethanol and others with a corn syrup liquid," Tollefson wrote in a statement.

He also said the Burlington Northern Santa Fe train "had numerous rail cars derail on the western edge of Raymond but within the city limits."

Law enforcement and EMS assisted in evacuating residents within a half mile of the derailment, officials said.

Residents without other housing options are advised to go to the emergency site of the Central Minnesota Christian School building in nearby Prinsburg.

Raymond has less than 800 residents, according to Census data.

The Minnesota derailment comes after a train derailed last month in East Palestine, Ohio, leaking toxic materials that then caused a fire and resulted in an evacuation of the area.