Syndicated Local

Community Worried As Chevron Makes Plan To Put Out Gas Well Fire

February 12, 2014 / 5:04 PM EST / CBS Pittsburgh

DILLINER (KDKA) -- Chevron says it's formulating a plan to safely put out a gas well fire that sparked Tuesday morning in Greene County.

But at this point, the company just does not know how long the fire will burn.

Smoke is still billowing from the gas well site and there's a near constant barrage of small explosions rocking the area.

The explosions kept miners off the job Wednesday at the Dana Coal Mine. They're losing money, but they're safe.

"It's not good. But I'm outside the mine and it's a lot safer," said Buzzy Bartock, a miner.

"You hear all that rumbling up there," said Rich Zendar, another miner. "Something's happening. What's going to happen, who knows?"

KDKA's Paul Martino: "You feel safer above ground?"

Zendar: "Well, probably so."

The well blew around 7 a.m. Tuesday. One worker was injured, another is missing and presumed dead.

Chevron has brought in experts from Texas to put the fire out. But as of late Wednesday, they were still trying to put a plan together.

Meanwhile, folks in the community are having second thoughts about drilling in their backyard.

"Tragic," said Dunkard Township Supervisor Joe Gacek. "You hear about it in other places, but you never think about it being here."