LIMA, OHIO -
This week's train derailment in Columbus has many Ohio counties taking a closer look at their plans of action should the same thing happen where they live.
Our area may actually be a little better prepared than other counties when it comes to this time of accident. It took a specially-trained group of workers to respond to the Columbus train crash. And that training is the same that many of Allen County's haz-mat responders go through.
In fact, Allen is one of just six counties in the state with a level one haz mat team designed to handle train or truck crashes involving dangerous materials.
Members of Allen County's haz mat team were instrumental in helping out during the February, 2011, train derailment in Arcadia up in Hancock County. That crash also included several ethanol-fueled explosions. Like Columbus, the cause of that crash is still under investigation.
