Four miners were taken to local hospitals following an accident at the Cameron Portal of the Marshall County Mine, Marshall County EMA Director Tom Hart said.

Hart said the county 911 center received a call from the Cameron Portal around 3:15 p.m. that two workers had been injured with chemical burns. While emergency medical staff was responding, Hart said there were additional reports of at least five workers injured. Marshall County EMS then declared a mass casualty incident and the Marshall County Health Department was notified to stage its decontamination unit.

Once EMS personnel arrived on scene, Hart said, it was determined there were four workers suffering from first-degree to severe second-degree chemical burns. Air medical was requested but could not fly due to weather. Both WVU Medicine Reynolds Memorial and Wheeling hospitals were notified prior to receiving the victims as a precaution. The mass casualty declaration was stood down.

Three patients were taken to Reynolds and one to Wheeling, all by Marshall County EMS.

Marshall County EMS Cameron and Moundsville, the Cameron Volunteer Fire Department, the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department, Marshall County Health Department, Marshall County 911, Marshall County EMA and the West Virginia Emergency Management Division were involved with the response.