Firefighters and other emergency personnel are on the scene of a westbound train derailment in Hays that happened about 1:15 this morning.

Two of three locomotive engines are on fire; the train had just refueled with diesel in Salina.

Here are some scenes of the fire shot by Harrison Brent, who was outside a south Vine Street establishment when the derailment occurred:

“The only way I can describe the noise is ‘mechanical thunder.’  It sounded like it was coming from everywhere, turning into a ‘metal on metal’ din.”

5:45am FROM THE CITY OF HAYS:

Tuesday morning a Westbound train derailed just east of the intersection of 8th and Vine. Citizens are asked to avoid the area of Hwy bypass to 10th and Hwy bypass to Riley St.

Non-emergency personnel will not be allowed in the area.

Two of three locomotives are on fire. Fire is being contained and under control. There are a total of 12 train cars down containing general cargo and freight. Twenty cars with ethanol on board are still upright and on the tracks.

Due to the large amounts of water needed for the fire citizens are asked to conserve water. Please refrain from any outside watering until further notice.

There will be a press briefing at 8AM.

5:35am:  The American Red Cross has opened a shelter at Holy Family Elementary School for people who were evacuated from a mobile home park near the derailment.  ARC is also supplying canteening for the responders.

4:50am:  Firefighters remain on the scene of a 12-car train derailment just east of the Highway 183 and 8th Street junction.  Incident Commander Kerry McCue, Ellis County Emergency Medical Services Director,  says “it’s going to be a long operation, probably 12 to 15 more hours before the fire is out.”

Officials now know 12 cars containing general freight cargo are on their side.  The 80-car train, believed to be Union Pacific, was westbound when it apparently struck a train car on the track.  McCue says the fire involves a full load of diesel fuel powering the engines and is not subject to explosion.

The three train engineers are not injured.

There is no danger to the public, says McCue, although a 900-square-foot area surrounding the incident site is closed to traffic and a handful of local businesses will not be able to open later this morning.

3:40am:  Officials have determined there is no danger of explosions because the train was not carrying any pressurized tanks

3:34a.m. Train engineers are accounted for and safe; no injuries to them.

3:24a.m.:  Ellis County EMS Director Kerry McCue tells Hays Post News there is no ethanol leak from the 40 derailed train cars.  The train was carrying ethanol tanks but those did not derail.  Emergency and haz-mat crews are fighting fires from the diesel fuel which powers the train engines.

2:59am:  A trailer park south of the derailment has been evacuated as a precaution.

About 40 train cars are derailed near Canterbury Drive and Old Highway 40.

2:49a.m.:  A law enforcement officer blocking traffic from the scene tells Hays Post News there are concerns the derailed train, near Vine Street and Old Highway 40, might explode.  It’s believed to be carrying ethanol and coal.

2:19a.m.:  A train has apparently derailed in the vicinity of 8th and Vine Streets in Hays about an hour ago.    Bystanders report seeing fire in that area, which remains completely blocked off by law enforcement officials at this time.

Hays Post will have more details as they become available.

(Pictures by Harrison Brent, Bill Ring, Becky Kiser)

The latest technology from Google is coming to Hays Post this week.

In March, Google selected 8,000 individuals across the country to be the first to test out Google Glass, a wearable device that allows the user to instantly share what they are seeing via video and photography. Eagle Communication’s Digital Media Director, Matt Moody, was one of those selected for the Google Glass Explorer Program.

Moody traveled to San Francisco over the weekend to pick up the device, which requires fitting and a brief training session at Google’s headquarters.

The device is worn like a pair of glasses and contains a small screen in the top right of the user’s view. The display allows the user to interact with text messaging, navigation, web browsing and even lets the user record video and take photos by voice command.

Google Glass is the most significant in a wave of new technology referred to as “wearable’s”.

From streaming live video of breaking news and severe weather, to building applications for the device, Moody said that they plan to put it to good use. “We are really excited to get this back to Kansas. Naturally, it will be a great tool for our Post reporters covering events in the area, but there are a lot of our other projects that this device could be of assistance with, ranging from public safety to agriculture.”

The device is expected to pop up in Hays, Salina, Manhattan and few other cities across the state over the next week.

For more information on Google Glass   https://www.google.com/glass/start/what-it-does/