WACO COMMUNITY-Three drilling employees were injured this afternoon in the Waco Community of Franklin county.
According to first responders, an explosion occurred as the drilling employees struck an underground natural gas pocket near a chicken house about six miles east of Russellville.
As a precautionary measure, nearby homes are being evacuated. Firefighters are battling the initial blaze caused by the explosion.
The incident occurred on County Road 724, off of Alabama Hwy. 24. The burn victims were flown to the Burn Center at UAB.
The crew is from Gentry Drilling of Leoma, Tennessee. They were drilling for water when the explosion occurred.
