The Nation - News from April 7, 1985

The possibility that the Wilberg Mine fire in Utah that killed 27 mine personnel last Dec. 19 was the result of arson is under investigation, Emery County Sheriff Lamar Guymon said. Working with investigators from Utah Power and Emery Mining, Guymon said the focus on arson resulted from reported jealousy among miners over an effort to set a production record. He said miners receive bonuses for such efforts. He added that if the “hearsay evidence” received proves to be factual, “there’s a good possibility that fire was set.”