Train Derailment Prompts Evacuations North of Warroad

About a half-dozen homes were evacuated as a precaution after the incident on Saturday morning.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 6:56pm

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A vast, atmospheric landscape painting depicting a snowy, fog-shrouded wilderness with a partially obscured train track winding through the scene, conveying the overwhelming scale of the natural environment and the vulnerability of human infrastructure.A remote train derailment in the frozen wilderness serves as a sobering reminder of the power of nature and the importance of preparedness.Warroad Today

A train derailment north of Warroad, Minnesota led to the evacuation of around 6-7 homes as a precaution on Saturday morning. The Warroad Fire Chief reported that 42 cars from a Canadian Railway train had derailed, with two of them containing 'dangerous goods.' No environmental concerns have been reported so far, and cleanup efforts are expected to take 2-3 days.

Why it matters

Train derailments can pose significant risks to nearby communities, especially when hazardous materials are involved. This incident highlights the importance of emergency preparedness and the quick response of local authorities to ensure public safety.

The details

The Warroad Fire Department was notified of the derailment just before 5 a.m. on March 28. Law enforcement went door-to-door to evacuate people in the homes between 400th Street and County Road 137 along Highway 313 as a precaution. The Patch Motel was made available for those who needed to evacuate. State hazardous materials teams from International Falls and Grand Rapids responded to the scene for air monitoring and to check for any leakage from the derailed railcars.

  • The derailment occurred on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
  • The Warroad Fire Department was notified just before 5 a.m. on March 28.

The players

Warroad Fire Chief Damien McMillin

The fire chief who reported on the derailment and evacuation efforts.

Canadian Railway

The railway company that owns the train that derailed.

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What they’re saying

“No environmental concerns at this time.”

— Damien McMillin, Warroad Fire Chief

What’s next

First responders, Canadian National Railway officials, and mutual aid partners are working on the cleanup, which is expected to take 2-3 days.

The takeaway

This train derailment incident highlights the importance of emergency preparedness and the quick response of local authorities to ensure public safety when dealing with potential hazardous materials incidents. The community's resilience in the face of this disruption is a testament to their preparedness.