NORFOLK, Va., Aug. 7, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- First responders from nine states took part in a Norfolk Southern-sponsored crude-by-rail emergency response class recently at the Association of American Railroads' Security and Emergency Response Training Center (SERTC) in Pueblo, Colo. The event marked the latest in Norfolk Southern's ongoing efforts to facilitate rail-focused training for emergency personnel across its operating system.

Forty responders from Pennsylvania, Ohio, Delaware, Indiana, New York, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland, and Alabama participated last week in a three-day course. Participants learned about the different kinds of crude oil being transported, types of tank cars used for crude transportation and crude oil response precautions. They also practiced specialized firefighting techniques during a mock 20-car derailment and fire.

"This is top-notch," said Jason Hudgens, a firefighter and paramedic from Akron, Ohio, who participated in the training. "We were on a 52-acre facility in the desert, and they ignited a fire to create a real-life situation. We could feel the heat and use the hoses to spray foam. You can't do that in a classroom. You can't do this anywhere else."

The training is part of the freight rail industry's commitment to provide specialized crude-by-rail training and tuition assistance to 1,500 first responders during 2014. Norfolk Southern will provide tuition, travel and expenses for a total of 126 responders to attend the training this year at no cost to communities or organizations. Additional NS classes will be held in October and November.

"NS is committed to enhancing safety, which includes not only sound train operations, but also preparing for emergency situations," said David Julian, NS vice president safety and environmental. "Pre-planning and training for first responders is essential to help them perform their duties when the need arises. With respect to the crude oil traffic segment, we look forward to working with emergency response agencies to assist them with hazardous materials planning, training, and resources to help them prepare for and to minimize impacts in the unlikely event of an incident."

In 2013, NS safety and environmental teams trained more than 4,800 state and local emergency responders at 108 locations across the railroad's 22-state network, and since 2000, NS has provided classroom and hands-on training to 62,000 responders.

Emergency response personnel from the following organizations attended the course:

Alabama
Tuscaloosa Fire & Rescue Service

Delaware
Christiana Fire Department, Newark Fire Department, PBF Energy-Delaware City Refinery

Indiana
Elkhart Fire Department, Fort Wayne Fire Department, South Bend Fire Department, LaGrange Fire & Rescue

Maryland
Cecil County Department of Emergency Services, Maryland Department of the Environment

New Jersey
Elizabeth Fire Department, Gloucester County Office of Emergency Response, Newark Fire Department

New York
Elmira Fire Department, New York State Division Homeland Security and Emergency Services Office of Fire Prevention Control

Ohio
Akron Fire Department, Columbiana County Emergency Management Agency-Franklin Fire Department, Fulton County Emergency Services, Norwalk Fire Department, North Ridgeville Fire Department, Toledo Fire & Rescue Department, Zanesville Fire Department

Pennsylvania
Allegheny County Emergency Services, Beaver County Emergency Services, Chester County Department of Emergency Services Hazardous Materials Response Team, Dauphin County Hazardous Materials Response Team, Eddystone Fire Company, Erie County Regional Hazardous Materials Team, Friendship Fire Company, Lancaster County Emergency Management Agency, Lehigh County Emergency Management Special Operations, Montgomery County Department of Public Safety, Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, Philadelphia Fire Department, Pittsburgh Fire Department, Westmoreland County Hazardous Materials Response Team

Virginia
Alexandria Fire/Emergency Medical Services, Lynchburg Fire Department

Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) is one of the nation's premier transportation companies. Its Norfolk Southern Railway Company subsidiary operates approximately 20,000 route miles in 22 states and the District of Columbia, serves every major container port in the eastern United States, and provides efficient connections to other rail carriers. Norfolk Southern operates the most extensive intermodal network in the East and is a major transporter of coal, automotive, and industrial products.

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SOURCE Norfolk Southern Corporation