Story By: Bartosz Staszewski, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News

Video Credit: CEN/@Gorlice

This is the moment a huge flame bursts from the ground after firemen set an oil and natural gas leak alight to stop it exploding in a field.

The incident took place in Sekowa near the city of Gorlice in the southern Polish region of Lesser Poland Voivodeship when the land owner spotted oil and gas spilling from the ground and called the emergency services.

The local authorities arrived at the man’s land, located close to the world’s first ever oil well at Bobrka Field, and set fire to the leakage.

Picture Credits: CEN

Firefighter spokesman Jacek Krawiec said: “The leak occurred during the day. Mining and gas experts arrived and burned it so that it would not remain in underground pockets and cause a possible explosion.”

According to reports, the affected area covered 30 square metres (323 square feet) and the subsequent blaze was 10 metres (33 feet) high.

Nobody was affected by the incident and the nearest residential area is reportedly 100 metres (328 feet) from the man’s field.

Meanwhile, the local authorities confirmed that the situation is under control and the site no longer poses a threat.

Experts collected samples from the seepage to be tested and cleared the area as much as possible.

According to reports, it is not currently known how long the leak will last, whether several hours or several weeks.

Poland’s oil industry began with the Bobrka Field in 1853, the first oil well in the world. This was followed by the first refinery in 1854.

By 1900, Poland was the world’s third oil producer, a position it lost after the Nazis and Soviet occupations.