The next three mine fires considered are the Tepe Pump Station Fire, the Renton Fire, and the mine fire in Boyce Park in Plum.
Tepe Pump Station Fire:
The Tepe Pump Station Mine fire is located in West Elizabeth. There are no visible effects on the surface; however, it is believed that the burn area is as large as 100 acres. It is a particularly "deep fire"--being several hundred feet underground. This provides a great deal of protection, but there are still concerns that a subsidence event could damage gas lines in the area, causing an explosion.
Renton Mine Fire:
The Renton Mine Fire, located in Plum Boro, is quite large. It has been burning for more than 15 years. Apparently, there are hundreds of subsidence-caused depressions, which have probably been backfilled by now. The region is considered an "unstable area," but there are no homes located above the blaze.
Mine fire in Boyce Park:
Also in Plum, there is a fire in Allegheny County's Boyce Park. It is smallish, slow-moving, and located in a wooded area not used for recreation. There is, apparently, only one vent on the 1.5 acre site.
An update on this! -The following was sent to me by Bob Williams of Plum Boro, Pennsylvania:
>I am writing in response to
>http://www.fifedrum.org/rhinohug/Westernfires2.html
>Mine fire in Boyce Park
>I live about 2 miles from there and recently workers moved in and
>escavated several acres and have been extinguishing it. The park is all
>torn up on that side, but interestingly, I noticed a stranded pavillion
>in the middle of a vast area of dirt.
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/tribeast/s_81264.html
http://www.dep.state.pa.us/newsreleases/default.asp?ID=1811
. . . So, I guess one can now ignore the following:
I don't know where this vent is. If anyone could give me information on its whereabouts, I would certainly appreciate it. You can email me at "fsjms@aurora.uaf.edu".
-Thanks, Bob! :)
On to my final bit on western PA fires.