Day or night, the groups responsible for responding to spills of hazardous substances and refined petroleum products in Texas must be prepared to deal with a wide range of crises and perils.
Some calls are minor and can be handled with a phone call.
Others make headlines. The collision knocked the two engines and several cars off the tracks, spilled thousands of gallons of diesel, and ignited a fire that burned through the evening, emitting oily, billowing clouds of smoke. A unified command of state and local officials was set up so decisions could be made as a group. There were injuries but no fatalities among the rail line employees. After the injured victims were taken care of, the immediate concern was public health.