Thousands of residents in Ohio and Pennsylvania were forced to evacuate their homes after a train carrying toxic chemicals was derailed near East Palestine, Ohio. The Norfolk Southern freight train that was derailed was carrying several hazardous chemicals including vinyl chloride, a chemical that is associated with an increased risk of cancer, according to the National Center Institute.

Emergency responders that arrived on the scene were ordered to slowly release the vinyl chloride into the air and ignite it. This created a large plume over the sky and prompted state officials to order an evacuation of the surrounding area.

Among the chemicals released into the atmosphere from this controlled burn were hydrogen chloride and phosgene. Phosgene, a gas used as a weapon in World War I, can cause a severe reaction when a person is exposed to it which includes vomiting, trouble breathing, and a burning sensation in the throat and eyes.

Approximately 5,000 residents in the nearby Ohio town of East Palestine were ordered to evacuate. While no deaths have occurred yet from the incident, many are concerned about the effects that will follow from this controlled burn being implemented near such a populated area.

There are also concerns that the release of these hazardous chemicals will contaminate nearby water sources. In response to this, West Virginia American Water is taking precautions to enhance its water treatment system in case its water source, a river in Ohio, is contaminated.

To add fuel to the fire, state officials in Ohio are receiving significant pushback from the public after a reporter who attended Governor Mike DeWine’s press conference was arrested. Evan Lambert, a report for NewsNation, was arrested while reporting live from the back of the school gymnasium where Governor DeWine was speaking to adress the train derailment. Video shows Lambert being pushed to the ground by officers, then subsequently handcuffed and arrested.

Coverage of Lambert’s arrest has prompted Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost to launch an investigation into his arrest.

Meanwhile, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has done little to address the concerns of Ohio residents. This morning, Buttigieg spoke at the National Association of Counties Conference. While there, he made no mention of the Ohio train derailment. Instead, Buttigieg spoke about how there was not enough diversity among construction workers.