January 8, 2010

Water well drilling rig fire in Freeville

Firefighters from Etna, Freeville and Dryden work Thursday to hose off a drilling rig Thursdayafternoon on Wood Road in Freeville after workers drilling a water well hit a pocket of natural gas.

Randolph Well & Pump Co. of McLean was drilling the well at 116 Wood Road, just north of EtnaRoad, when the blaze began at 2:18 p.m., according to Freeville Fire Chief Andrew Down.

Firefighters responded minutes later and had the fire out by 2:30, he said. No one was hurt, butthe drill suffered "extensive damage," Down said.

(SIMON WHEELER / Staff Photo)

HAZARDOUS MATERIAL SPILLS INFORMATION REQUEST

Close Date:Spill Number: 0910884UNKNOWNIdentification Number 1

FREEVILLE, NY NO ZIP PROVIDED126 WOOD RD ADDRESS CHANGE INFORMATIONRevised street:Revised zip code: Spiller Phone:Spiller: UNKNOWN AT THIS TIMECOMMERCIAL/INDUSTRIALSource of Spill: Notifier Phone:Notifier Name:Fire DepartmentNotifier Type: Caller Phone:Caller Agency:Caller Name:Contact Person Phone: (607) 327-2723Contact for more spill info: CHIEF ANDY DOWNSMJROMOCKDEC Investigator: Known petroleum or hazardous material release with minimal potential for fire/explosion (indoors or outdoors), drinking waterCategory:contamination, or releases to surface waters.Willing RP - DEC Field Response - Corrective Action Initiated, Taken Over, or Completed by RP or Other AgencyClass:------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Penalty RecommendedMeets Cleanup StandardsCause of SpillDate Cleanup CeasedSpill Date NONOEQUIPMENT FAILURE1/07/2010 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Resource(s)QuantityQuantityMaterialMaterial AffectedUnitsRecoveredUnitsSpilledClassSpilled SOIL, GROUNDWATERGALLONS0.00GALLONS10.00PETROLEUMHYDRAULIC OIL ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Caller Remarks:WELL RIG ON FIRE WHEN HIT NATURAL GAS POCKET - POSSIBLE RESOURCES AFFECTED - FD ON SCENE - REQ CALLBACK ASAP------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------DEC Investigator Remarks:01/07/10- Called Fire Dept. Chief at the scene. Cleanup of Hydrualic is underway by responsible party. To be inspected.