AL community finds gas leaking into water wells

JASPER, Ala. - An Alabama fire chief says underground mines may be the source of natural gas found leaking into some residents' water wells in Walker County.

WIAT-TV reports emergency responders in Barney community northwest of Birmingham spent the weekend installing vents in several homeowners' wells so the gas would dissipate safely. One woman was evacuated from her home temporarily as a safety precaution.

Kelly Hyche, chief of the Barney Volunteer Fire Department, says the methane gas appears to be bubbling up into the groundwater and coming through the wells. Officials aren't sure where the gas is originating, but they suspect it could be from underground mines in the area.

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