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VOLGA – A coal mine in Barbour County was evacuated Wednesday morning after carbon monoxide was detected at the site, and officials said Thursday the issues are likely being caused by a fire in the mine.
Officials evacuated the Longview Mine in Volga between around 3 a.m. Wednesday after a monitoring system indicated elevated levels of carbon monoxide within the mine, according to information released by Allegheny Metallurgical, the mine’s owner.
Representatives from the West Virginia Office of Miners’ Health, Safety and Training (OMHS&T) and the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) are on site, working directly with company leadership to evaluate conditions, implement suppression plans, and conduct a full investigation into the source, officials said.
Andy Malinoski, West Virginia Economic Development Director of Marketing and Communications, speaking on behalf of OMHS&T, told The Inter-Mountain on Thursday that “following an initial indication of elevated carbon monoxide levels detected by monitoring equipment, emergency protocols were immediately enacted and all underground personnel were safely evacuated as a precaution.
“All miners have been accounted for and no injuries have been reported… The indication is that the carbon monoxide levels and smoke are being caused by a fire in the mine,” Malinoski told The Inter-Mountain Thursday afternoon.
Allegheny Metallurgical said in a statement that the safety of its employees is its highest priority and that the incidents were being investigated by federal and state agencies.
“The appropriate state and federal agencies were immediately notified and are on site,” the Allegheny Metallurgical statement read. “We are grateful for their prompt response and support and we are working closely with them to investigate and evaluate conditions at the mine and determine the appropriate next steps. We are especially thankful for our dedicated employees and their response to the situation. The safety of our workforce remains our highest priority as we work toward safely resuming operations.”
Allegheny Metallurgical, a West Virginia-based company that employs more than 400 workers, produces metallurgical coal, which is the key ingredient for steel production both in the United States and around the world.