NORA, Ill. — About 100 residents of the village of Nora are the subjects of a precautionary evacuation following the derailment of 17 cars of a Canadian National train carrying ethanol early today (Oct. 9, 2025).
The Jo Daviess County Emergency Management agency said in a press release that the Warren Fire Department and Joe Daviess County Sheriff’s Office initiated the evacuation for those living within 1,000 feet of the incident following the derailment at about 12:08 a.m., in keeping with guidance of an Emergency Response Guide. No injuries or fatalities have been reported.
CN officials are on scene working with local responders to assess the situation and coordinate cleanup efforts. CN representatives are also on hand at the Warren Community Building in Warren, Ill., to assist evacuees with accommodations and other support needs.
WIFR-TV, which has a drone image of the incident on its website, reported this morning that no one was expected to be allowed to return to the area for 12 to 18 hours. Jim Klinefelter of the Carroll County Emergency Management Agency said in a 1 p.m. press conference that there was no time frame for lifting the evacuation order.
CN said in a statement that crews were able to contain and patch two cars that were leaking, and that ongoing cleanup efforts include environmental monitoring; Klinefelter said both the railroad and county were monitoring groundwater conditions at the scene.
Nora is approximately 4 miles south of the Wisconsin state line and 4 miles southeast of Warren, Ill., on CN’s Dubuque Subdivision. It is approximately 25 miles northwest of Freeport, Ill., and 20 miles east of Galena, Ill.
