EAST PALESTINE — Norfolk Southern has issued a prepared statement moments ago saying the controlled burn operation at the site of the East Palestine train derailment was a success.

“The controlled breach of several rail cars has been completed successfully under the supervision of experts and first responders. Some of the material is now burning off consistent with expectations from the earlier models, and is expected to drain for a short number of hours. We have been, and will continue, monitoring air quality with the Ohio EPA. Remediation work at the site can now safely continue,” the press release states.

The slow release of vinyl chloride from five rail cars into a trough that was then ignited created a large plume above the village.