In 1895, lightning ignited West Virginia gas well, sending flames 200 feet high
In 1895, a lightning strike ignited the uncontrollable Big Moses natural gas well in West Virginia, sending flames 150-200 feet high. Discovered in 1894, the well was exceptionally powerful, and contemporary technology proved inadequate to contain its immense pressure.
Why it matters
This historical event provides insight into the early dangers and technological limitations of the nascent oil and gas industry, illustrating the raw power of natural resources and the challenges faced by engineers in the late 19th century.
In 1895, a lightning strike turned an already uncontrollable natural gas well in West Virginia into a spectacular column of fire. The Big Moses gas well, located along Indian Creek in Tyler County, had become famous after drillers searching for oil instead struck an enormous underground supply of natural gas. According to West Virginia Explorer, the well produced gas with such extraordinary pressure that efforts to contain it repeatedly failed. When lightning ignited the escaping gas on June 14, 1895, flames reportedly rose 150 to 200 feet into the air and attracted crowds from the surrounding countryside.
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