Coal Breaker Gutted by Flames



Tuesday, October 23, UPDATED: 11:47 a.m.
By Norm Jones



Nearly 100 firefighters battled flames at a coal company near Shamokin Tuesday morning.

Firefighters said the blaze at the Split Vein Coal Company was reported around 6 a.m. After hours of battling that blaze firefighters are still on the scene along Route 61, pouring water on the smoking building.

Pictures sent to PhotoLink show the scene along Route 61 in Ralpho Township as flames roared through the coal breaker. Officials said someone called 911 after driving past the inferno around 6 a.m.

Firefighters said they could see the orange glow of flames from miles around. One fire chief said the blaze was difficult to control, considering the hundreds of tons of coal and the high winds this morning.


"I'd say there was about 30 to 35 mile per hour winds coming out of the southwest upon our arrival and it just picked up again for a short period of time," said Elysburg Assistant Chief Bob Dluge. "It makes it much more difficult because it was pushing the fire from one side of the property to the other."

Officials from the state and federal government were on hand to assist a state police fire marshal. Officials said they will take a closer look at the building once the fire is out and the building is safe to investigate.

According to PennSOT a section of Route 61 between Elysburg and Shamokin is still closed.

Fire trucks and tankers are using the road to haul water to the fire scene.

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