Highway reopens following fiery train derailment in southern Sask.
Highway 39 has reopened following a fiery train derailment in southeastern Saskatchewan.
According to the Highway Hotline, the incident was cleared just after 4 a.m. on Saturday.
On Thursday morning just after 9 a.m., a CP train derailed approximately two kilometres northwest of Macoun, Sask., forcing the closure of Highway 39 in both directions.
Late Friday morning, the village of Macoun’s chief administration officer Carmen Dodd-Vicary said the highway was still closed.
She said a fire was still actively burning, but officials worked overnight to reduce the blaze.
Dodd-Vicary said rail traffic was passing through the area on Friday.
On Thursday, four homes in the village near the tracks were evacuated for safety reasons. Dodd-Vicary said those families have since returned home.
She added more homes in the nearby RM of Cymri were also evacuated.
The village noticed a significant increase in people around due to the presence of emergency responders.
“But around town it’s business as usual,” Dodd-Vicary said.
In an emailed update, Canadian Pacific said its hazardous materials team was working with local emergency crews to clean up the railcars involved in the derailment.
Repairs to the railway tracks were completed on Friday morning and train movements resumed soon afterward.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada is currently investigating the incident.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trudeau to present health-care offer to premiers in long-awaited meeting for new deal
Canada's health care system is not working as well as it should and that has to change, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Tuesday as he prepared to meet the premiers to work on a new health-care funding deal.

Canadians now expect to need $1.7M in order to retire: BMO survey
Canadians now believe they need $1.7 million in savings in order to retire, a 20 per cent increase from 2020, according to a new BMO survey. The eye-watering figure is the largest sum since BMO first started surveying Canadians about their retirement expectations 13 years ago.
National shortage of veterinarians puts pressure on clinics, pet owners
Canada’s yearslong shortage of veterinarians was exacerbated during the pandemic, as more people welcomed pets into their homes to add joy and companionship during lockdowns. Now, concerns around quickly accessing medical care for animals is more urgent than ever, says one vet.
Quake deaths pass 5,000 as Turkiye, Syria seek survivors
Search teams and emergency aid from around the world poured into Turkiye and Syria on Tuesday as rescuers working in freezing temperatures dug, sometimes with their bare hands, through the remains of buildings flattened by a magnitude 7.8 earthquake. The death toll soared above 5,000 and was still expected to rise.
Why wasn't the suspected Chinese spy balloon shot down over Canada?
Critics say the U.S. and Canada had ample time to shoot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon as it drifted across North America. The alleged surveillance device initially approached North America near Alaska's Aleutian Islands on Jan 28. According to officials, it crossed into Canadian airspace on Jan. 30, travelling above the Northwest Territories, Alberta and Saskatchewan before re-entering the U.S. on Jan 31.
U.K. police officer, exposed as serial rapist, jailed for life
A former London police officer was sentenced Tuesday to life in prison with a minimum term of 30 years for raping and sexually assaulting a dozen women over a 17-year period.
Exoplanet 31 light years away could be habitable: astronomers
Astronomers have discovered a rocky exoplanet about a few dozen light years away from Earth with conditions that could make it habitable.
Nova Scotia man finds possible historic Killick anchor on beach
John Benoit of West Jeddore, N.S., says he has been beachcombing for over 50 years, but his most recent discovery -- a Killick anchor -- is by far his most memorable.
Quebec minister 'surprised' asylum seekers given free bus tickets from New York City
Quebec's immigration minister says she was 'surprised' to learn the City of New York is helping to provide free bus tickets to migrants heading north to claim asylum in Canada.