An unplanned venting incident involving a railroad tank car brought emergency crews to the Beaumont area of Spartanburg on Thursday afternoon, briefly closing several roads near the intersection of Beaumont Avenue and Isom Street before the situation was resolved by evening with no injuries reported.
Area newsrooms reported the call came in just after 1:00 p.m. Thursday. Spartanburg County Hazmat crews confirmed that the rail car was venting — a process hazmat officials described as the car doing what it is designed to do under pressure conditions — but stressed that an uncontrolled pressure buildup could become hazardous. Investigators identified the substance involved as ethylene, a colorless and highly flammable liquefied gas. Rail operator CSX was also on scene coordinating with local authorities, and city officials confirmed there was no direct threat to the public. CSX worked with on-scene crews to move the affected car to the nearby Beaumont yard for further evaluation while the venting continued.
Aerial footage from news helicopters captured the full scope of the emergency response, confirming fire officials had established road closures in the vicinity of Beaumont Avenue and Broadview Drive in Spartanburg County. Drivers in the area were asked to avoid the location while the response was ongoing.
Reporters at the scene described a live response visible from the corner of Beaumont Avenue and Isom Street — approximately 40 yards from the leaking tank car. A Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office official on scene confirmed the roads closed included Isom Street at Beaumont running through Beaumont at Garner Road, with traffic also backed up near the Drayton area where a bridge crosses the Beaumont–Drayton corridor. Cones were placed across that bridge to redirect drivers. The same official noted the incident resembled a previous hazmat situation in Enoree, South Carolina in March. Investigators characterized the tank car’s action as a controlled safety venting function designed to release pressure — and stressed they did not classify it as a leak — though the venting had not been scheduled or planned.
In follow-up reporting later Thursday evening, local newsrooms confirmed a shelter-in-place order that had been issued for residents near the Beaumont area of Spartanburg County was lifted after crews completed their response. The two roads that had been closed were also reopened. Hazmat crews confirmed no injuries occurred during the incident.
Spartanburg County Hazmat told investigators that rail cars carrying ethylene have passed through the Spartanburg corridor multiple times over the past two years. Ethylene is commonly used in industrial manufacturing and chemical processing. The venting incident is the second rail-related hazmat response in the broader Spartanburg area in recent months, following the Enoree event referenced by responding officials.
