Where there's smoke, there's fire.

And there's plenty of smoke right now in northern Carbon County.An underground mine fire near the village of Jeansville has been a concern since it was discovered in 2012.Originally thought to be confined to a pit, it's actually burning at a mined-out area and beneath a working mine of Hazleton Shaft Corporation.No one really knows how the fire started, or how long it has been burning.One theory suggests the fire began in a pit where tires or other rubbish might have ignited.Colleen Connolly, spokeswoman for the Department of Environment Protection in Wilkes-Barre, said the fire has burned for at least five years.George Roskos III, president of Hazleton Shaft, has said it might have smoldered for 30 years and then caught fire as it became exposed to more air.Whatever the case, the Jeansville mine fire is particularly troubling because nobody really knows how extensive it is.Bore hole drilling and thermal imaging are being used to pinpoint the location, which actually might be several different locations.Another problem is lack of accurate maps."They don't give us an idea of what the mines are like underground," said Connolly in August.As a result, crews using those maps from the 1940s and '50s reportedly drilled in the wrong place.Adding another layer of concern is the presence of a protected species of bats living in the mine area, posing a legal complication in attacking the fire.Truth is, there are plenty of question marks about the Jeansville mine fire.In the meantime, smoke billows from the site, near Tresckow, and fills the air with a pungent sulfur smell.A public meeting set for October will shed more light on the problem.State officials said this week they're confident the fire can be contained.But the reality is that too little is known about the fire's scope in order for anybody to feel confident.The last thing northeastern Pennsylvania needs is another Centralia, the Columbia County town virtually destroyed by a similar underground mine fire.The Jeansville fire is a serious concern for residents of the region, especially those complaining of compromised air quality.The DEP has conducted air quality testing recently. They claim none of the tests to date have shown any elevated levels of harmful gases.That might be true, but families shouldn't be exposed to sulfur smells.Until more is known, the Jeansville mine fire should be considered one of the most pressing environmental problems of Carbon County.It's an issue too hot to overlook.By Donald R. Serfass |

dserfass@tnonline.com