Not an expert but just from my common sense, isn't burning usually the worst thing you can do? I mean if its on the ground, any toxic element, at least you know where it is. You can evacuate and do whatever you have to do to clean it. But if you burn it, gg.it gets airborne, gets into your lungs, spread with wind etcA small clarification:
Burning is the absolute worst choice for people and the environment because it turns a rapidly dissipating toxin into a permanent one, then creates a convection blower that distributes the toxic byproducts wherever the wind blows.
Burning is the absolute best choice for the bottom line of the railroad company because it gets rid of the vinyl chloride faster and allows the rail line to re-open sooner.
If I am a normal guy and see a strange chemical on the wild, I ain't going to burn it. I will just turn around and leave. This seems like the safest approach, don't touch or interact with it in any way