A week now from its discovery, the blazing hole in Midway continues to baffle and intrigue, with its cause still under investigation.
Baxter County Office of Emergency Services Director Jim Sierzchula says the top priority, apart from determining the cause, is safety.
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Though the area has been ruled safe, residents are still curious about the cause of the hole and flames. Sierzchula says the investigation is still underway, but some possibilities have now been ruled out.
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Black Hills Energy, who first responded to the scene to rule out a gas line as the cause, have since returned to the hole.
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In an effort to narrow down what was burning, Sierzchula says emergency personnel and his office have enlisted the aid of geologists from Little Rock, as well as experts from the State Crime Lab.
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Despite several organizations working to find the cause, Sierzchula says the hole and the fire may remain a mystery.
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The Midway hole was first reported to emergency personnel last Monday, with witnesses reporting an orange flame shooting from it 10 to 12 feet into the air for about 45 minutes. Initially, Black Hills Energy recorded temperature readings of 1,200 to 1,600 degrees from the fire.
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