Tennessee Oil Well Ablaze

Firefighters are battling a blaze at an eastern Tennessee oil and natural gas well, evacuated by US operating company Walden Resources.

Firefighters are containing the blaze in Oliver Springs, while an oilfield firefighting company flies into the site, the company told Reuters.

The fire has been described as a "wild one" by a company spokesperson.

The well's drilling crew hit natural gas on Tuesday afternoon, but when a blowout prevention device failed gas and oil began flowing from the well.

The blaze is believed to have been ignited this morning by a truck engine while crews were trying to cap the well, the company says.

A spokeswoman for the state's Environmental and Conservation Department told says an interceptor trench has been dug to contain oil coming from the well and booms are in place to prevent the flames from reaching a nearby creek.

By staff writer