07/16/2025
BNSF Railway
BNSF Hazmat Response and Preparedness Webinar
Dear Emergency Responders and Emergency Managers:
On behalf of BNSF Railway, I want to thank you for your partnership with BNSF and dedication to your communities.
I am sending this message to encourage you to take advantage of resources that might benefit your departments and your efforts to be prepared for an unlikely rail emergency involving hazardous materials.
BNSF Hazmat Training
BNSF Hazmat Response and Preparedness Webinar
On August 7, 2025, at 12:00 CST, BNSF Hazmat will be hosting a webinar titled “Back to the Basics,” which will step participating Emergency Managers and Fire Fighters through preparing for and sizing up a railroad hazmat emergency
Virtual-Reality Web-Based training (WBT)
Two new virtual-reality web-based trainings (WBT) are available for free: Initial Incident Size-Up and Reading a Train List. These 20-minute WBTs provide responders with information which will lead to a safe and efficient response
Instructor-Led Training
BNSF Hazmat continues to conduct, upon request, instructor-led hazmat training for first responders in communities along our railroad
Scholarships to Security and Emergency Response Training Center (SERTC) in Pueblo, CO
BNSF still provides scholarships to cover the tuition to railroad emergency response training at the industry’s SERTC in Pueblo, CO. To learn about SERTC go to www.sertc.org.
To register for the webinar, go to https://www.bnsfhazmat.com/community-responders/community-responders-home/training/online-training-center/railroad-emergency-response/. To review our other training opportunities, go to https://www.bnsfhazmat.com/community-responders/community-responders-home/
ASKRAIL - The ASKRAIL app provides responders at no cost with immediate access to accurate, timely data about what type of hazardous materials are in a specific rail car or on a train so they can make an informed decision about how to respond to a rail emergency. AskRail also has desktop and web-based versions available for local Emergency Communication Centers (ECC) that can be used to provide responders with this necessary hazmat car and train information. For onboarding and assistance integrating AskRail with your ECC, please contact Railinc at (877) 724-5462 or [email protected]. Get more information about the AskRail app here: www.askrail.us.
BNSF Hazardous Materials Traffic Flow Reports - BNSF also provides hazardous materials traffic flow reports to fire departments and emergency managers. These reports provide a listing of the hazardous materials that BNSF transported through a city or county over the last 12 months. To request a hazardous materials traffic flow report, please go to www.bnsfhazmat.com and select the Community Responder Tab.
BNSF’s System Emergency Response Plan - A copy of BNSF’s System Emergency Response Plan is available for your review and use through www.bnsfhazmat.com. Part of our System Emergency Response Plan is BNSF’s Incident Management Team (IMT). Our IMT allows for the mobilization of resources at varying levels as dictated by incident circumstances. BNSF’s IMT maintains a large group of well-trained personnel to lead and assist with emergency response incidents and is comprised of a local or state IMT, a Regional Away Team, and a Corporate Crisis Management Team (known as a “Go-Team”).
Hazardous Materials Routing - Pursuant to US DOT Regulations [49 CFR 172.820(g)], rail carriers are required to provide to Local, State, and Tribal officials with the railroad’s point of contact for routing of the following hazardous materials:
·
Explosives (1.1, 1.2 and 1.3) (> 5,000 lbs)
Poison Inhalation Hazards (Tank Car Loads)
Radioactive Materials (Highway Route-Controlled Quantity),
High Hazard Flammable Trains
Methane, refrigerated liquid (Tank Car Loads)
BNSF Railway’s point of contact for routing issues is:
Dan Smith
Director Operations Performance Measures
Phone – 817-867-5230
Email – [email protected]
Thank you for your partnership and your efforts to protect our communities. Please feel free to forward this message to any of your team members. And if you want to continue to receive information on BNSF’s emergency response training, exercises, and changes that can affect emergency responders, sign up to our communications list.
Sign up to receive info
Stay safe.
Patrick Brady CIH, CSP
General Director Hazardous Materials Safety
Office 817.352.3652
Cell 817.821.1325
This site is designed to be used by community first responders, contractors and our BNSF hazmat team who work together to ensure hazmat safety at BNSF.
