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Fire officials burn off liquid after Ky. derailment

The Associated Press
Deseret Morning News (Salt Lake City)
Copyright 2007 The Deseret News Publishing Co.

BROOKS, Ky. — Fire officials started a controlled burn Wednesday of thousands of gallons of a flammable liquid left over after a derailment set off a huge chemical fire that led to evacuations and the closing of a busy highway.

A dozen tanker cars derailed Tuesday morning and spilled various chemicals that caught fire, pouring out flames and huge clouds of smoke.

Officials urged residents within a mile to evacuate. No serious injuries were reported but about two dozen people near the crash site south of Louisville checked themselves into a hospital and were released after checkups, authorities said. An 18-mile stretch of nearby Interstate 65 was closed for about 11 hours.