Responders to Underground Mine Fires
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RESPONDERS TO UNDERGROUND MINE FIRES Ronald S. Conti Fire Prevention Engineer National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Pittsburgh Research Laboratory ABSTRACT underground coal and metal/nonmetal mines from 1991 to 2000 in the United States, Fire is a major concern for those who work resulting in 2 fatalities and 34 injuries (these in underground mines. A mine fire can occur statistics also include the Willow Creek Mine at anytime and often results in a partial or total fire and explosion). A significantly higher evacuation of mine personnel and could result number of unreportable fires are believed to in the loss of lives. Therefore, having a have occurred. Table 1 depicts the various workforce that is well trained to prevent, categories of 76 underground coal mine fires detect, and fight a fire is important. This paper and 61 underground metal/nonmetal mine fires focuses on responders’ preparedness for fire. from1991 to 2000. As seen from the table, Responders in this context are considered the friction fires are the most common category of entire workforce and are categorized as first, underground coal mine fires, followed by other second, and sustained responders and and mobile equipment. In underground evacuating miners. Quality training enhances metal/nonmetal mines, mobile equipment fires ones awareness of mine fire hazards and are the leading category of fires, following by promotes self-confidence in combating fires cutting and welding and the other. and responding to emergencies. Early warning systems and other escapeway aids such as a Table 1. Categories of Mine Fires. through-the-earth signaling and Coal Metal/Nonmetal communication system, lasers and strobe lights are also addressed. The technological Categories Pct Categories Pct advancements that have been made can Electrical 14 Electrical 10 improve the state-of-preparedness for Friction 24 Friction 5 responders to underground emergencies and increase the chances of survival for escaping Mobile 15 Mobile 46 personnel. Equipment Equipment Spontaneous 12 Spontaneous 2 INTRODUCTION Combustion Combustion Fires are still too common an occurrence in Cutting and 14 Cutting and 16 Welding Welding the mining industry. Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) statistics1 indicate that Other 21 Other 21 137 fires (fires reported to MSHA) occurred in Source: MSHA Accident Reports 1991 - 2000 1Mine fire statistics were obtained from files maintained at MSHA’s Denver Safety and Health Technology Center, Injury and Employment Information Fire is a major concern for those that work Branch, Denver, CO. underground. A fire occurred during coal fire is important. It is also paramount for production on November 25, 1998, at the miners to maintain and know their escape Cyprus Plateau Mining Corporation’s Willow routes. However, a study (1) of the Creek underground mine near Price, Utah. underground preparedness of miners at seven Forty-five miners evacuated. The mine was underground coal mines showed that only 8% sealed and inert gas injected into the fire area. of the miners were satisfied with the The mine reopened and twenty months later, on firefighting training they were receiving. Some July 31, 2000, two miners lost their lives and of these miners called for less complacency eight miners sustained injuries due to a fire and and more involvement by the workers. Out of explosion. A more recent fire occurred on 214 miners surveyed, 38% reported that they February 8, 2001, at the Homestake Gold were notified sometime during their mining Mine, Lead, South Dakota. Thirty-seven career to evacuate the mine because of a fire miners evacuated. Rescue teams mustered and and 70% were involved in at least one discovered the fire in an old timber stope firefighting incident. (inactive area) between the 1,067-m and 1,113- The success of safely controlling and m levels. Water was used to flood the affected extinguishing an incipient mine fire depends on area. Historically, mine fires have caused several factors, such as an awareness of the fire fatalities, injuries, and economic losses totaling hazards, early detection, availability of hundreds of millions of dollars. One of the effective firefighting equipment, quick goals of the National Institute for Occupational response time, and trained firefighters. If a Safety and Health’s (NIOSH) Pittsburgh coal mine fire cannot be contained by direct Research Laboratory (PRL) is to enhance the firefighting methods within a few hours after safety of the mine worker by preventing discovery, the chances of successfully disasters caused by fires and explosions. extinguishing the fire without sealing part of The remote nature of underground mining the mine or the entire mine are greatly requires workers, at all positions within the diminished. Many mine operators and workers organization, to maintain higher skill levels in are not aware of how fast mine fires can emergency response compared with workers in spread, have little knowledge of the magnitude many other industries. Traditional work of a detectable fire, nor have much experience organizations can, in greater part, rely on in the proper selection and use of modern professional, full-time, expert community firefighting equipment. Information on the services and specialists to assist in the response latest mine fire detection, alarm and to fire, rescue, and medical emergencies. For extinguishing technologies, and firefighting example, smaller cities and towns have strategies may be difficult to obtain. Such volunteer fire departments that are highly equipment and techniques could significantly capable. The issue of measuring fire improve the success rate of safe firefighting preparedness for the individual mine site is operations and reduce the risk and occurrence critical for predicting the response (including of severe mine fires. elements of evacuation and fire fighting) in Fire research conducted by the former U.S. case of an underground fire. What does it Bureau of Mines, as well as actual mine fires, mean to be prepared to deal with fire in an have shown that fires can spread very rapidly. underground mine? For example, large-scale fire gallery A mine fire can occur at anytime and often experiments (2) have shown that conveyor belt results in a partial or total evacuation of mine fires can propagate at rates of more than personnel. Therefore, having a workforce that 0.10 m/s (20 fpm). Yet, many in the mining is well trained to prevent, detect, and fight a industry still believe that fire-resistant belting will not burn. Modern fire detection and brigades, have advanced firefighting skills and firefighting equipment, though available, is not personal protective equipment, and take over often found in underground mines. Longer firefighting activities when the fire becomes detection times result when fire sensors with too dangerous to fight by first responders; slow response times are employed (3,4,5). sustained responders, or mine rescue teams, are Often, mine fires grow out of control due to trained to rescue trapped and injured personnel, poor planning, inoperative detection systems, fight fires or recover a mine; and evacuating inadequate water supplies, inappropriate miners responding to an environment that is no firefighting equipment, broken waterlines, longer safe to work in. Technologies to assist failed suppression systems, and improper evacuating miners during a fire are also personal protective equipment. discussed. Mitchell (6) states, “The best facilities and equipment can never compensate for poor EMERGENCY RESPONSE preparation.” A large part of mine fire PREPAREDNESS preparedness is worker capability, experience, motivation, and training, along with a strong Emergency Plan commitment by management. Facilities and programs for mine personnel to learn about the Confusion and disorder after the initial hazards of mine fires, evaluate modern fire discovery of an emergency is normal. The first detection and firefighting equipment and few minutes after discovery are crucial and the technologies, and observe the proper methods key is to minimize the chaos. Since most to combat mine fires are lacking. Mine fire emergencies are unique, a program detailing application seminars and briefings, sponsored every situation is not possible. However, there by MSHA at the National Mine Health and are certain elements common to all and the Safety Academy (7) and conducted by NIOSH preparation of a written emergency plan can at PRL’s Lake Lynn Laboratory2 are positive reduce the turmoil associated with the steps. Conti (8) suggested that increasing the emergency. Some of the most important mining industry’s awareness of the dangers of elements of an emergency plan include the underground mine fires and conducting following: communication protocol and periodic fire audits with a well-organized notification of key officials immediately after checklist (9) could reduce the probability of discovery of an emergency and updating them having a major fire and improve the current at certain intervals afterwards; the state of fire preparedness. responsibilities of certain personnel during the This paper deals with responders to emergency and the selection of a competent underground mine fires. Responders in this person to be in overall control; the context are considered the entire workforce, development of an advisory and control group; and are categorized as follows: first responders procedures for evacuation and survival; rescue are the first to encounter a fire and initiate and recovery