WILLARD, Ohio — All evacuations from a chemical spill Tuesday night in a railroad yard in Willard were lifted Saturday.
Residents of several dozen houses closest to where a railroad tank car ruptured after derailing, spilling about 13,000 gallons of styrene monomer, were allowed home starting in the morning, according to a CSX Transportation statement.
Evacuation orders initially affected about 400 residences whose occupants were forced out early Wednesday.
Most were allowed home Thursday afternoon.
Officials said the evacuations were precautionary because of the chemical’s high flammability and irritating vapor.
People who seek air-quality testing of their homes should contact the Center for Toxicology and Environmental Health at 1-888-959-8351 to schedule a test, CSX said.
CSX on Saturday opened an Outreach Center at Christian Alliance Church, 1609 Conwell Ave. for residents to file compensation claims with the railroad.
Applicants should provide picture identification, proof of residency, and receipts, if available.
Efforts to remove styrene, a chemical used in the manufacture of plastics and synthetic rubber, kept two of three main tracks through the Willard railroad yard closed.
Some trains were diverted to bypass the bottleneck.