Firefighters battle oil well fire near Bowerston; no injuries reported

Jon Baker, The Times-Reporter
·1 min read
Firefighters work to control an oil wellhead fire at the CHK Jamar Pad owned and maintained by Encino Energy in North Township, Harrison County. The fire was called in early Tuesday morning. Equipment from multiple area fire departments can be seen in the background as water from Bowerston was shuttled to the scene.
Firefighters work to control an oil wellhead fire at the CHK Jamar Pad owned and maintained by Encino Energy in North Township, Harrison County. The fire was called in early Tuesday morning. Equipment from multiple area fire departments can be seen in the background as water from Bowerston was shuttled to the scene.

NORTH TWP. – Fire departments from Harrison and Carroll counties responded to an oil wellhead fire early Tuesday about four miles east of Bowerston.

The fire began off Timmerman Road about 6:48 a.m. at the CHK Jamar Pad, according to Encino Energy, which owns the well. It was successfully extinguished around 2:45 p.m.

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A tanker from the Bowerston Fire Department departs an oil wellhead fire at the CHK Jamar Pad owned and maintained by Encino Energy.
A tanker from the Bowerston Fire Department departs an oil wellhead fire at the CHK Jamar Pad owned and maintained by Encino Energy.

Officials said the fire was contained and no environmental damage occurred.

Fire departments from Bowerston, Scio, Tappan, Cadiz, Harrisville, Carrollton, Perrysville and Loudon Township responded to the blaze. The Harrison Community Hospital ambulance was also on scene.

There were no reports of injuries.

Encino hired two separate companies to monitor the quality of the air coming from the pad, said Eric Wilson, director of the Harrison County Emergency Management Agency. The companies were looking for VOCs (volatile organic compounds), but the testing found nothing to be concerned about.

Encino employees, as well as Ohio Department of Natural Resources oil and gas people, are continuing to monitor air samples.

"I'm very pleased with the way everybody worked on this," Wilson said. "The situation was contained in a very safe manner."

Workers from Encino Energy walk the perimeter of the CHK Jamar Pad owned and maintained by Encino Energy in North Township, Harrison County. An oil wellhead caught fire early Tuesday morning.
Workers from Encino Energy walk the perimeter of the CHK Jamar Pad owned and maintained by Encino Energy in North Township, Harrison County. An oil wellhead caught fire early Tuesday morning.

"Encino is working with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to investigate the cause," Jackie Stewart, director of external affairs for Encino, said in a statement. "Encino’s top priorities are the safety of our employees, contractors and communities and we are grateful for the rapid response and close coordination of local first responders and Harrison County Emergency Management Agency personnel.”

Reach Jon at 330-364-8415 or at jon.baker@timesreporter.com.

Fracking equipment makes its way from Timmerman Road to the scene of an oil wellhead fire at the CHK Jamar Pad owned and maintained by Encino Energy in North Township in Harrison County.
Fracking equipment makes its way from Timmerman Road to the scene of an oil wellhead fire at the CHK Jamar Pad owned and maintained by Encino Energy in North Township in Harrison County.
Firefighters work to control an oil well head fire at the CHK Jamar Pad owned and maintained by Encino Energy, Tuesday, April 4 in North Township, Harrison County. The fire was called in early Tuesday morning.
Firefighters work to control an oil well head fire at the CHK Jamar Pad owned and maintained by Encino Energy, Tuesday, April 4 in North Township, Harrison County. The fire was called in early Tuesday morning.

This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Firefighters battle oil well fire in Harrison County