Mining Publication: Analysis of Underground Coal Mine Fire Incidents in the United States from 1978 through 1992
Original creation date: January 1995
This U.S. Bureau of Mines publication is an analysis of underground coal mine fire incidents occurring in the United States during the 15 years from 1978 through 1992. The fire data used in this analysis were obtained from U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration mine fire investigation reports. Fires were analyzed by year, State, coalbed thickness, mine size, mining method, ignition source, burning substance, location, equipment involved, detection method, time of day, time of year, number of injuries and fatalities, method of extinguishment, and evacuation measures taken. In all, 164 fires are included in this report, or an average of 10.8 fires per year. The most fires occurred in West Virginia, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania, respectively. However, the fire incidence rates for these States, expressed as the number of fires per million tons of coal mined, were the lowest, second lowest, and fourth lowest of all underground coal producing States. The most common ignition source was electricity; the most common burning substance was coal; the most frequent fire location was the belt entry; the most common equipment involved in fires was the conveyor belt; and the most common extinguishing agent was water.
Authors: WH Pomroy, AM Carigiet
Information Circular - January 1995
NIOSHTIC2 Number: 20032560
Minneapolis, MN: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Mines, IC 9426, 1995 Jan; :1-25
See Also
- Analysis of Mine Fires for All U.S. Underground and Surface Coal Mining Categories: 1990-1999
- CFD Modeling of Fire Spread Along Combustibles in a Mine Entry
- Fire Response Preparedness for Underground Mines
- Reducing the Fire and Explosion Hazards of Flame-Cutting and Welding in Underground Coal Mines
- Refuge Alternatives in Underground Coal Mines
- Safe and Economical Inerting of Sealed Mine Areas
- The Status of Mine Fire Research in the United States
- Technology for Remote Mine Seal Construction
- An Underground Coal Mine Fire Preparedness and Response Checklist: The Instrument
- Wireless Mesh Mine Communication System
- Content source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Mining Program