PINE BANK, Pa. (AP) -- Consol Energy (CNX -2.51%) crews have begun pumping water into a coal mine on the West Virginia-Pennsylvania border to douse an underground fire that forced the mine's evacuation.
Consol officials say smoke was seen coming from a shaft in Wayne Township, Greene County, Pa. on Tuesday afternoon, prompting the evacuation of more than 120 day-shift workers. Those miners all got out safely and Consol spokeswoman Lynn Seay says no miners will return until it's safe, though it's unclear when that will be.
Consol crews pumped about 125,000 gallons of water into the mine through a borehole Wednesday morning and later began drilling the first of three more bore holes through which more water will be pumped. Methane and carbon monoxide levels are also being monitored.
The mine is in West Virginia, though its shaft portals are in Pennsylvania.
