Monday morning at 1:40, Humboldt/Lanigan RCMP were advising motorists that traffic was blocked between Guernsey and Plunket on Highway 16 due to complete lack of visibility due to smoke. A train derailment and fire occurring near the roadway had caused the smoke. CP Rail and Fire were on scene. There was no timetable to reopen the road, and RCMP said this could be an extended traffic blockage. Motorists were encouraged to plan alternate routes around the location.
An update at 4:30 a.m. said Humboldt/Lanigan RCMP remain on scene to assist CP Rail and the Fire Department with diverting and re-routing traffic.
All motorists were advised to avoid any travel near Highway 16 between Guernsey and Plunket until further notice. An alternate route is available south of Plunket on Highway 365 toward Watrous, then north along Highway 668 to Guernsey.
There are no injuries reported.
Meanwhile, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) is deploying a team of investigators to the site.
The TSB will gather information and assess the occurrence.
The TSB is an independent agency that investigates air, marine, pipeline, and rail transportation occurrences. Its sole aim is the advancement of transportation safety. It is not the function of the board to assign fault or determine civil or criminal liability.
