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The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) will host a Roundtable Talk on Tuesday, Feb. 27 at 2 p.m. EST entitled Lessons Learned: Reflecting on the East Palestine Derailment and the Path Forward.
Just over one year ago, on the evening of February 3, 2023, an eastbound Norfolk Southern Railway freight train derailed 38 railcars in East Palestine, Ohio. The incident received national media attention due to public health concerns about the hazardous materials release, which included vinyl chloride, a liquified compressed gas that is flammable, highly toxic, and a known carcinogen.
The incident also drew attention to the importance of getting real-time information to first responders about the hazards at the scene. About 300 firefighters from 50 departments initially responded to the scene of the derailment in East Palestine on the night of February 3. Many of them were volunteers.
The National Transportation Safety Board thoroughly investigated the accident in East Palestine, and their final report is forthcoming.
In this Roundtable Talk, participants will hear from panelists Keith Drabick of the East Palestine Fire Department, Dan Seidberg of IamResponding, and John Fleps of Norfolk Southern. The conversation will be moderated by the NVFC’s Ryan Woodward.
This Roundtable Talk will be streamed live on Facebook and Zoom. To join, visit the Facebook Live page for this event at the scheduled time, or register to attend via Zoom.