CAMBRIDGE ‒ A well pad fire on Jan. 2 resulted in the Guernsey County Emergency Management Agency recommending an evacuation order for residents of Antrim and its surrounding areas.
The EMA established a half-mile radius around 19669 Cadiz Road (U.S. 22), southwest of Antrim for the evacuation area, according to social media post by the EMA.
The fire posed an “increased risk to the local surroundings,” noted the post.
The fire was reported by the Guernsey County EMA Facebook page at around 7:43 p.m. and through an audio alert.
A series of four videos by Donald Warnock, the fire chief of the Antrim Community Fire Department, confirmed the fire earlier at 5:49 p.m., according to a news release from Save Ohio Parks, an anti-fracking organization made up of concerned statewide residents.
“As flames shot 100 feet into the air, authorities in consultation with Gulfport decided to let the fire burn itself out,” the release stated. “SR 22 was closed and would remain closed for several hours.
“Information soon emerged that the fire was caused by an explosion at the Groh well pad, owned by Gulfport Appalachia,” the release added. “Drone footage found one tank had completely collapsed with a second tank breached.”
No one was injured during the incident. “Residents near Fairground Road, Brushy Fork Road, Dutch Barn Builders, and Rainbow Road were asked to leave their homes and go to the fire station for assistance,” the release continued.
The Times Recorder is seeking more information from the Guernsey County EMA, Guernsey County Sheriff’s Office, and Antrim Community Volunteer Fire Department.
This story will be updated as more information is received.
Shawn Digity is a reporter for the Zanesville Times Recorder. He can be emailed at sdigity@gannett.com or found on X at @ShawnDigityZTR.
This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: Well pad burns in Guernsey County; Antrim residents evacuated