One person was severely burned after a fire started while crews were operating a water drilling rig in Mt. Pleasant Township Monday afternoon, officials said.

According to Kecksburg Fire Chief Adam Krozel, a company was drilling a water well at a home along Freeman Falls Road when something ignited, causing flames to come from the hole.

“They possibly hit a gas pocket in the ground,” Krozel said, noting that the company had drilled 500 feet down to find water. “Something caused it to ignite. I’m assuming there was some kind of burst of flames coming out of there.”

He added that there were no gas pipes or wells around the area they were drilling in.

Crews led by Kecksburg Volunteer Fire Department were called to the home shortly before 3 p.m. A county 911 supervisor said at 3:20 p.m. that the fire was out, but crews were still at the scene. Krozel said at 6 p.m. the scene was clear.

One person was flown by medical helicopter to a Pittsburgh hospital for treatment.

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