TIONESTA -ðNo criminal charges will be filed regarding the oil
well fire/explosion Saturday in the Allegheny National Forest in
Forest County that left two people with burns.

According to Clearfield-based state police fire marshal Mick
McCracken, the cause of the fire, which was ruled accidental, has
yet to be determined.

“(The cause) is not official yet,” McCracken said, adding a
forensic investigation into the fire is ongoing. He went on to say
insurance companies for the two companies involved, as well as
representatives from OSHA, are assisting police with the
investigation.

“Anytime someone is injured on the job like that OSHA is
involved,” McCracken said.

McCracken said the well would have to be taken apart and
examined when all the investigating parties can be present. He
added the fire caused “more than half a million dollars” in
damages, calling it a “high-class fire.”

Two people, who had not been identified by police as of
Thursday, were reportedly injured in the fire. McCracken said one
of the individuals had already been released from the hospital, but
the other was still hospitalized for his burns.

According to Tionesta-based state police, the fire broke out at
1:30 p.m. Saturday at an oil and gas well just west of Watson Farm
Road in Howe Township.

Police said in a release that two well drilling company
employees were injured. Their names, sex, ages and/or addresses
were not released.

Previous reports, however, said two people – one an employee of
Vertical Resources of Sugar Grove, and the other an employee of
S.W. Neilly Air Notching of Bradford -ðsuffered severe burns as a
result of the fire. The well is reportedly owned by Vertical
Resources, and the Bradford company was preparing the well for
production when the fire broke out.

The Highland Township Volunteer Fire Department in Elk County,
Ludlow Volunteer Fire Department in McKean County, Sheffield Fire
Department in Warren County and Marienville Fire Department in
Forest County responded to the scene.