On November 4, 34 volunteers from the area participated in a Railroad Emergency Responder Training course hosted by the Spy Hill Fire Department. The session, led by Keith Meighan, CN Rail Dangerous Goods Officer for Saskatchewan, attracted attendees from fire departments in Langenburg, Stockholm, Churchbridge, and Spy Hill RM 152.
The training focused on crucial topics such as emergency planning, response techniques, identification of hazardous materials, and an overview of railroad equipment. Jim LaRocque, Chief of the Spy Hill Fire Department, expressed gratitude for the opportunity, stating, “We are fortunate to have resources such as this CN Training available to us. Keith Meighan (CN) worked with us and our schedules to accommodate our needs and deliver a very informative and focused training night. Special thanks to all the members of our volunteer fire departments, most of whom worked a full day and then rushed home, and came back out so that when, not if, there is an emergency in our communities, they are ready, willing, and trained to respond.”
CN, which has been in operation for over 100 years, spans an impressive 19,600 miles across eight Canadian provinces and 16 U.S. states. The railroad transports a variety of goods essential to North American economies, including dangerous goods, though these account for a small portion of CN’s overall shipments. Courses like the one hosted by the Spy Hill Fire Department equip local responders with essential knowledge for handling potential emergencies involving these materials.
For transportation, CN relies on tank cars built to federal standards, mostly owned by chemical shippers and third-party companies. CN itself owns only a few tank cars, primarily used for transporting operational materials for the railroad such as lube oil, non-potable water and diesel fuel.
As of the end of 2023, CN employed 1,176 railroaders in Saskatchewan, who operate over 1,845 miles of rail. The top commodities shipped through the province include grain, fertilizers, and intermodal freight, with the largest classification yard located in Melville.
More information about CN’s safety practices and training programs is available at www.cn.ca/en/safety