CSX Train Derailment in Todd County, Kentucky: Shelter-in-Place Order Lifted After Molten Sulfur Spill

Trenton, Ky. — December 30, 2025

A CSX freight train derailed early Tuesday morning in rural Todd County, Kentucky, spilling molten sulfur and sparking a fire that prompted a temporary shelter-in-place order for nearby residents. No injuries were reported, and the shelter-in-place was lifted later in the day after air quality tests confirmed safe conditions.

The incident occurred around 6:20 a.m. near Trenton Tress Shop Road and Dixie Bee Line Highway (U.S. 41), approximately one mile west of downtown Trenton, a small community near the Kentucky-Tennessee border. According to CSX and local officials, 31 rail cars derailed, with at least two carrying molten sulfur—a highly flammable and potentially toxic chemical used in industrial processes.

The spill ignited a fire, releasing fumes that raised concerns about air quality. Todd County Emergency Management Director Ash Groves described the response as swift, noting that hazmat teams extinguished the blaze and contained the leak. "This could've been much, much worse," Groves said, praising the coordinated efforts of first responders and CSX crews.

Authorities initially issued a shelter-in-place order for residents within a half-mile to one-mile radius of the site, advising them to turn off HVAC systems to prevent drawing in potentially hazardous fumes. Amid freezing temperatures and an arctic blast gripping the region, a warming shelter was established at the Bingo Barn in Guthrie for displaced individuals.

By midday, air monitoring showed no elevated levels of sulfur dioxide or other contaminants, allowing officials to lift the shelter-in-place and permit residents to resume normal activities, including turning heat back on.U.S. 41 remains closed between Trenton and Pembroke in Christian County, with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet describing it as a "long-term blockage." Cleanup operations are ongoing, and CSX has stated it is investigating the cause of the derailment.

This event echoes a similar CSX derailment in Rockcastle County on Thanksgiving 2023, where molten sulfur cars caught fire, leading to evacuations and a state of emergency. Officials emphasized that Tuesday's quick containment prevented a repeat of more severe impacts.

The derailment disrupted local traffic but caused no reported damage beyond the immediate site and some adjacent land. CSX crews are working to clear the tracks and remove the derailed cars.

17GEN4.com