May 20, 2024 By Mike Jones 3 min read

A large storage building operated by a subcontractor at the Bailey Mine complex in Greene County caught fire Monday morning, prompting numerous fire departments to respond to fight the massive blaze.

Emergency responders were dispatched to Consol Energy’s sprawling mine complex in Richhill Township shortly before 7 a.m. after the fire was reported at the three-story building, Greene County Emergency Management Director Rich Policz said.

“It’s a pretty intense operation up here,” Policz said.

Dark, black smoke could be seen billowing in the sky from miles away as firefighters tried to bring the blaze under control. Policz said no injuries were reported as of 10 a.m., although the rising ambient temperatures Monday afternoon could be a concern for firefighters with the intense heat from the fire.

While the fire occurred on the Greene County side of the border, Policz said he was coordinating closely with his emergency management counterparts in Washington County since the mine complex straddles both counties. He said numerous fire departments from both counties were dispatched to the fire, and a parade of commercial water tankers could be seen entering the complex’s front gates at Enon Church Road.

Fire trucks at the scene could be seen driving back and forth inside the complex, appearing to go to a staging area to fill up with water before taking it directly to the site of the storage building.

“It’s not an issue getting water (to fight the fire),” Policz said. “Just coordinating to get them up there. We have a lot of tankers, plus the mine has tankers. It’s just a very big coordinated effort.”

Vehicles bearing logos from the state Department of Environmental Protection and the federal Mine Health and Safety Administration could also be seen driving up to the scene. Washington County’s Department of Safety command center was at the site, where Policz and other emergency management officials were coordinating the response. The cause of the fire was not immediately known.

Consol Energy spokesperson Erica Fisher said that while the fire was located on the Bailey Mine complex’s property, the building is owned by a “third party project partner” that is not operated by the coal company. She identified that subcontractor as Omnis Bailey LLC, and directed questions about the fire to that company. Fisher added that Consol’s operations were not impacted by the fire.

“This incident has no direct impact on Consol’s mining operation, the preparation plant or our employees, so we’re thankful for that,” she said. “(Omnis Bailey) confirmed that all of their employees are accounted for and no injuries were sustained.”

A company press release from Omnis Bailey in 2017 stated that it was working directly with Consol to construct a refinery at the Bailey complex to process waste coal from the mining operation.

Continue to monitor www.Observer-Reporter.com as more details become available.