SIBLEY, Iowa -- Chemicals spilled after 47 train cars derailed are fueling a fire in Northern Iowa.
A Union Pacific train carrying hydrochloric acid, potassium hydroxide and asphalt derailed Sunday near Sibley, Iowa, catching fire and airing toxic fumes.
Sibley City Administrator Glenn Anderson says it's unknown how long cleanup will take as toxic tar is now fueling the fire.
"The tar is dripping more than it's pouring out, so the drip just feeds the fire enough to flare it up and put it back down, but there's other chemicals out there, as I understand, I don't know which ones they are, but they don't want them to intervene and [sic] intertwine," said Anderson.
He says the fire is mostly contained, but the rest of the cleanup will take more time.
"When they pull a car off, which they haven't gotten to yet. They want to do it methodically, correctly so that way it doesn't interfere or create a larger leak," said Anderson.
Iowa State Representative John Wills posted to Facebook saying he was briefed on the train derailment.
He says crews are pumping 10,000 gallons of water onto the fire per minute to keep it under control.
Union Pacific is stepping in to help those affected by a train derailment in Northern Iowa.
The railway company set up accounts at Hy-Vee and McDonalds in nearby, Sheldon to provide a free meal to people affected by the derailment.