Chemical fires finally out at site of train derailment near Louisville, Ky.

Friday, January 19th 2007, 1:27 pm

By: News On 6

BROOKS, Ky. (AP) _ Fire officials have finished burning off chemicals left after a train derailed and ignited a massive blaze south of Louisville earlier this week, forcing nearby residents from their homes for days.

The last of a synthetic chemical left in three tanker cars was drained and burned in a pit Thursday night, said John Bastin, a spokesman for the Kentucky Division of Emergency Management. A rail car full of paper products still had some hot spots Friday morning, but Bastin said that was not a major concern.

A dozen tanker cars derailed Tuesday morning, spilling various chemicals. Several cars caught fire, sending thick black smoke over northern Bullitt County. No one was seriously hurt, but nearby homes and a school were evacuated and part of a busy highway was closed for hours.

Residents near the crash scene were still not being let back into their homes Friday afternoon, said Rob Orkies, fire chief for the Zoneton community.

CSX officials had removed all 80 of the train's rail cars by Friday morning, and workers had removed sections of the track. The rail operator plans to install up to 900 feet of new track, CSX vice president Cindy Sandborn said.

Federal officials investigating the derailment have said early inspections indicate the CSX crew acted properly just before it went off the tracks, and that they were examining the equipment and track in their search for the cause.