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It happened just before 5 a.m. in the Plymouth Meeting section of Whitemarsh Township, Barren Hill Fire Company Chief Chris Schwartz told reporters at a press conference late Monday morning.
Fifteen CSX Norfolk Southern train cars derailed between Stanton Avenue and Joshua Road, Schwartz said. Rail consists showed the train carried two empty cars, five containing urea (a "liquid fertilizer,") and one containing tetrachloroethylene, officials told reporters.
"Out of an abundance of caution," 12 area homes were evacuated to a nearby school building, Schwartz said. Train personnel were also escorted safely off-site.
Emergency teams including county hazmat and drone operators reported "no active hazardous material leak" at the wreck, Schwartz said. A car carrying "plastic pellets" did break open and spill but "these pellets were not hazardous," he added.
No injuries were reported and evacuated residents were sent home by 9:30 a.m., officials said. Norfolk Southern and CSX have taken control of the site to begin remediation, according to Schwartz.
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