The mystery of a flaming hole at Midway in mid September leaving emergency personnel scratching their heads has been solved.
Baxter County Office of Emergency Services Director Jim Sierzchula says results of tests point to residue from four chemicals causing the orange flame burning for about 45 minutes, while shooting 10 to 12 feet into the air.
He says the findings are similar to the contents of a Sterno warming fuel can, part sulfur dioxide, ethylene oxide, toulene and xylene.
The tests were conducted by the Arkansas Army National Guard’s 61st Civil Support Team based at Camp Robinson in North Little Rock. Sierzchula says samples of the clay soil were taken from three different levels in the hole and sent to Camp Robinson to be tested.
Sierzchula says authorities do not know how the chemicals were placed in the hole. What they do know is the chemicals would not normally be there.
Sierzchula says thankfully no one was injured in the incident, and no laws were apparently broken.
Following the early morning blaze Sept. 17th, emergency personnel ruled out a gas line, lightning strike and even a meteor as possible causes for the fire.
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