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Dangerous: Entering abandoned mines is foolish, risky

First responders, including mine rescue personnel, don’t ask questions when someone needs their help. They just go, often putting themselves in peril.

When greed or plain old stupidity are what put those who need help in trouble, the rescuers have every right to be angry. Yet they still go.

Three times during the past couple of weeks, state government and coal company rescue teams have had to enter dangerous abandoned mines in search of people believed to be inside. The most recent incident, on Sunday in Raleigh County, involved four people.

People go into old mines, some shut down for decades or even generations, for several reasons. Curiosity is one. Trying to steal valuable copper power lines left in the mines is another.

But the old shafts can be incredibly dangerous, even to professionals.

After the Sunday rescue attempt, Gov. Jim Justice issued an angry plea to the public. “STOP entering abandoned mines,” he begged in a press release. “This is extremely irresponsible behavior that puts our first responders and mine safety crews in unsafe situations,” he added.

Yes, it does — and that is why anyone caught trespassing in an old mine ought to be punished severely. Putting one’s own safety at risk is bad enough. Jeopardizing first responders and mine rescue crews is unacceptable.

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