CONSOL MINE FIRE Consol Drilling In Search For Pa.- WV Mine Fire
Reported by: Associated Press
Web Producer: Heath Harrison
Reported: Mar. 14, 2013 3:07 PM EDT
Updated: Mar. 14, 2013 3:20 PM EDT
Eyewitness News Photo
Pine Bank, Green County, Pennsylvania
The federal Mine Safety Health Administration said Consol Energy crews are continuing to drill bore holes to help pinpoint and battle a fire in an underground coal mine that straddles the West Virginia-Pennsylvania border.
Smoke began pouring from a shaft at the Blacksville No. 2 mine in Wayne Township, Greene County, Pa., on Tuesday afternoon. More than 120 day-shift workers got out safely, and Consol said no workers will return until the mine is safe.
MSHA officials said more than 250,000 gallons of water had been pumped into the mine through a bore hole drilled on Wednesday, and five more holes were being drilled or prepared on Thursday.
Once the first of those holes reaches the mine, a camera will be lowered to assess the fire and more water will be dumped into the mine from a pond.
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Associated Press
