What's Happening in Northvale, NJ…

With heavy freight trains rumbling through Bergen County, loaded with Bakken crude oil, officials are wondering what would happen in the case of a derailment. In order to devise plans to deal with this scenario, county officials, local mayors, state lawmakers, and many firefighters met on January 11 to discuss ways to deal with such an event.

The freights haul millions of gallons of Bakken crude, which is highly flammable. In the event of an accident, this oil would almost certainly ignite, which could be particularly dangerous in highly populated areas.

Bergenfield fire chief Jerry Naylis said at the meeting that the problem would be too big for just one town to deal with on its own. It must be a concerted effort by a number of communities in Bergen County, including Haworth, Bergenfield, and Northvale.

Naylis has gone on record as saying the county needs more equipment, manpower, and expertise. He said simply waiting for an oil fire to burn itself out was not feasible, since it would decimate local communities. Other firefighters identified some of the problems facing them, including a lack of resources, and the need for a plan to protect drinking water from oil spills. Officials believe a plan could be ready in six months.

County officials might consider working with a flyer printing company on a mailer for residents, asking for their input.