http://youtu.be/Kc0iqAZNTFM
CSX safety officials are training dozens of first responders on how to handle and respond in the event of a hazardous material incident.
The two-day training program includes classroom and hands-on training in freight rail operations, hazmat safety and tanker car markings.
More than 30 participants broke up into groups, and climbed up on top of the different tanker cars to practice safety measures.
"We're learning how to make sure the rail cars brakes are on,” says City Fire Lieutenant Andrew Lonthair. “Whether they are choked; whether the power has been cut to them; whether the fuel supply has been cut to them. Then, basically, the specifics of each type of rail car that's on the rail."
Groleau says much of the training is in response to public outcry over CSX transporting the highly explosive crude oil through cities and towns. On July 6, 2013, a tanker car in Canada derailed and exploded killing nearly 50 people.
"We understand that we have great responsibility in doing that,” says Carla Groleau, a spokesperson for CSX. “That's why we have great opportunities like this to do training and have conversations and ensure that our safety officials have the information that they need to respond to an event. And the biggest thing for us, is that we know that one incident is one too many."
CSX runs 1,300 trains between Canada and Mexico each day. Of those, about two of them carry crude oil. Groleau says those unit trains consist of 80 to 100 cars.
Tanker cars carry crude oil through Rochester, Brighton and Fairport among others towns.