The Newport Fire Department didn’t learn about a train derailment there early Tuesday morning until hours after it happened.
The derailment happened about 3:30 a.m. on a stretch of tracks between Palmer and Old Bangor roads, near Christy’s Campground, according to the Newport Fire Department.
That damaged some tracks in the area.
While the derailment happened before sunrise Tuesday, the Newport Fire Department said it only learned about it around 12 p.m. when a resident reported the freight cars off the tracks.
“CSX officials have been hesitant to release information, and it is unclear why there was a delay in involving the fire department,” the department said in a statement.
A CSX spokesperson said Thursday morning that it alerted the Penobscot County Regional Communications Center and “made all necessary notifications during the incident.”
Newport’s fire chief didn’t immediately return a phone call Wednesday morning.
The CSX spokesperson said Wednesday the four derailed freight cars were empty at the time and remained upright and inline.
David Madore, the deputy commissioner of the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, which was alerted about the derailment, said Wednesday that there were no environmental hazards from the derailment.
“DEP remains prepared to assist if our involvement is needed,” he said.
No one was injured.
The scene has been cleared and “normal train operations have resumed,” according to the CSX spokesperson.
The derailment remains under investigation.