Minnesota residents evacuated from homes as train carrying ethanol derails and catches fire

Hundreds of Minnesota residents have been evacuated from their homes after a train carrying ethanol and corn syrup derailed overnight, sparking a large fire.

Kandiyohi County Sheriff’s Office said in a press release that the Burlington Northern Santa Fe cargo train derailed at around 1am on Thursday morning in the town of Raymond, Minnesota.

Several train cars – carrying mixed freight including ethanol and corn syrup – burst into flames, the sheriff’s office said.

Multiple fire departments and first responders were deployed to the scene where they have been battling to bring the blaze under control.

Local residents were told to evacuate their homes in the nearby area, with a half-mile evacuation zone set up around the crash site.

So far, there have been no reported injuries.

An emergency collection site has been set up at the Central Minnesotan Christian School in nearby Prinsburg for evacuated residents in need of a place to go.

As of around 5am, the sheriff’s office said that the site remained active as the fire was being contained.

Members of the public have been urged to stay away from the town of Raymond until further notice.