The gas was slowly released into a trough that was then set on fire, creating a large plume above East Palestine. Flames and black smoke could be seen above the village until late in the afternoon. The EPA said it is continuing to monitor the air quality.
No injuries to the train crew, first responders or community members have been reported, according to the National Transportation Safety Board.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, East Palestine fire chief and incident commander Keith Drabick and other officials from both states said Wednesday that East Palestine residents could safely return home.
DeWine and Shapiro ordered the immediate evacuation of hundreds of residents within a 1-mile by 2-mile area surrounding East Palestine on Feb. 6, when Norfolk Southern burned the rail cars' chemicals, releasing hazardous fumes into the air.
Related: How often do train wrecks spill hazardous chemicals into neighborhoods? Here's what data shows
"You need to leave, you just need to leave. This is a matter of life and death,” DeWine said at a news conference.
Residents who stayed in the area and inhaled the fumes faced death or serious injuries, including skin burns and lung damage. It is believed that most residents left the area before the evacuation, the Ohio Emergency Management Agency said. Law enforcement from both Ohio and Pennsylvania went door-to-door to ensure any remaining residents left before the controlled release.
East Palestine officials are testing the water supply for chemicals
Norfolk Southern contractors visited homes over the weekend that were identified as having at-risk drinking water wells, the East Palestine Police Department said .
Runoff from the derailment impacted Sulphur Run, Leslie Run, Bull Creek, North Fork Little Beaver Creek, LittleBeaver Creek and the Ohio River, the Ohio EPA said. Contractors with Norfolk Southern installed a dam and water bypass at Sulphur Run to prevent further contamination of downstream waters on Feb. 10.
Why was a reporter arrested in East Palestine?
NewsNation correspondent Evan Lambert was arrested for trespassing on Wednesday in East Palestine while attending DeWine's press conference about the train derailment. In a statement, East Palestine police said they asked Lambert to stop his live report because he was being "loud," which resulted in an argument. Police said they arrested Lambert after he refused to leave the area.
The broadcast reporter was held in custody for about five hours before he was released, NewsNation reported.
DeWine said at the end of the press conference that he did not authorize the arrest. East Palestine police officers and officers with two state agencies were involved, according to the police department's release.
Lambert, who is based in Washington, D.C., could still face charges of disorderly conduct and criminal trespassing, NewsNation said.
This report will be updated.
