A train derailment near Brenham forced more than a dozen Washington County families from their homes early Saturday morning.
It happened about 6:30 when 22 cars of an 87 car Burlington Northern train derailed. Crews discovered one of the cars was leaking a chemical called Ethyl-Hexaldehyde which is toxic in high doses.
17 families were evacuated as a precaution. The EPA determined the fumes were not dangerous and the families were allowed to go home at 4:00pm.
The clean up got underway immediately and should be complete by Monday at the latest. Crews from the EPA, the state and local offices of Emergency Management and numerous first responders all helped out with the scene.
