By Angela Hatton
Madisonville, KY – One worker injured during a surface fire yesterday at Warrior Coal Mine near Madisonville remains under medical observation. Another worker was released yesterday after treatment. The two drillers suffered minor injuries, including smoke inhalation. Alliance Coal officials say workers hit a pocket of gas, which exploded. They were attempting to alleviate a ventilation problem in the underground portion of the mine. The explosion did not damage underground operations. Alliance Coal officials have declined to release the workers' names. The Warrior mine has yet to resume normal operations.