
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, December 31, 1994                   TAG: 9501030062
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: APPALACHIA                                 LENGTH: Short

METHANE WELL DECLARED EMERGENCY

Gov. George Allen on Friday declared a state of emergency for this Southwest Virginia town as a methane well that exploded Christmas morning continued to burn.

Firefighters on Friday discovered what might be another well.

``The danger of another methane explosion continues to be a potential threat,'' Allen said.

``We're looking at another week,'' to control the situation and monitor methane levels around the clock, said Appalachia Fire Chief Robert Anderson Sr.

Firefighters extinguished the blaze Wednesday, but elevated levels of methane were found in the area Thursday. The fire was deliberately reignited Thursday to burn off methane.

by CNB