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CARBON COUNTY -- Owners and operators of the Dugout Mine near Price are working to seal off a section of the mine before it catches fire. Over the weekend, crews used water and foam to try to suppress the "heating event" but determined it wasn't effective.
National Administrator for Coal Mine Safety and Health Kevin Stricklin says this type of problem is fairly common in parts of Utah.
"There's just certain coal seams that are susceptible to this type of phenomenon that we call ‘spontaneous combustion,'" Stricklin says. "Spontaneous combustion is a situation where oxygen basically comes in contact with the coal, and starts giving off some heat. Ultimately it becomes smoke, and it could lead to a full-fledged fire."
That's what crews want to avoid. They're working to seal off the unused section of the mine where the problem is, and then they'll pump out the oxygen in that section, which should eliminate the risk of fire.
Evacuations were ordered for the mine on Friday as a precaution. The mine will not reopen until the problem is resolved and crews determine it's safe to re-enter the mine.
No injuries have been reported.
E-mail: mahamilton@ksl.com
