Other Mine Fires
The Red Ash Mine Fire
This fire started on the property of the Red Ash Coal Company in Laurel Run,
PA. The fire was discovered around 1915. The coal company took measures to put
it out, such as sealing openings and flushing tunnels. They though it was out,
until in 1922 it was in fact found that the fire spread to underground coal
seams. It the 1960's people along the border of Wilkes-Barre Township and
Laurel Run had to leave homes, schools,. shops and churches because of the
fire. Smoke and stream vent from pipes along several holes that connect to the
mines. The fire is still burning today. Steam and smoke can be seen from the
valley below in several spots.
http://www.undergroundminers.com/laurelrun.html
My name is Raymond J. Milius, I was born in
Girardville Jan. 7th, 1924. Many a Saturday, My Father, my
brother, and I, picked coal from the coal refuge bank, at the
foot of the sloop located across the creek from the drift, of
the "Blast" colliery. About 1932 the mine caught fire,
rumors were that the cause was a miner smoking, who left the
butt lit. To extinguish the fire, it was to be flooded,
the drift was blasted shut. The year 1943, I've visited
Girardville, with three of my friends who were to be inducted
into the army . Due to the energy shortage, the "Blast"
drift was opened the water was drained. The mine was
still burning, the drift was closed, the mine was reflooded
In 1960, my wife and I, on our "Honeymoon", drove to Shamokin,
Pa. On the north side of the highway from Mt. Carmel to
Shamokin, driving at night, the westward red glow on the
mountain was very visible, from the burning coal vein.
Signed; Raymond J. Milius.
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The New Jersey Coal Company Mine Fire
A fire broke out in the workings of the New Jersey Coal Company on top of
Plymouth Mountain. This occurred some time in the 1930's. It is thought to be
out.
The West Side Mine Fire
This fire has been burning off of Dundaff Street in Carbondale since before
the 1960's. In the 60's people got sick from the carbon monoxide gas and I
believe one person died. Close to 600 families had to move out of the
neighborhood over the years because of this fire. It is still burning and the
site being worked by heavy equipment.
The Powderly Culm Bank Fire
Also in Carbondale, PA this fire is thought to be out. It was starting in culm
banks at the former Powderly Colliery. This site has been dug up and watered
down and no sign of fire has been detected for about two years. The fire may
have spread to underground coal seams and evidence of it may not be visible.
Beaver Brook Mine Fire
A mine fire has been detected in the boro of Beaver Brook near Hazleton. The
mine fire started when garbage dumped in a stripping pit was set on fire.
Officials from the Office of Surface Mining called in heavy equipment to try
to dig up the fire. It is not known at the time if the fire has spread to coal
seams. This is the same way the infamous Centralia, PA fire started.
Other Pennsylvania Mine Fires
There are many underground mine fires in Pennsylvania as well as around the
world. Pennsylvania has over a quarter million acres of abandoned mine
lands and has over a third of the nations mine problems. There are over 45
mine fires burning across Pennsylvania. There are five underground fires in
Allegheny County, five in Percy County, one in Westmoreland, and others in
more isolated areas. There are also fires in Findlay Twp., West Elizabeth,
Plum, and Clinton. "In all, the DEP estimates about 1,300 acres across the
state are on fire underground." (Glover, 1998). One particular town,
Youngstown, is under the wrath of the Percy fire that has been burning for
over 30 years. There are about 60 homes resting on top of this fire now.
Youngstown is reaching the critical decision point that Centralia reached in
1983, either extinguish the fire or relocate the whole town. Estimates
conclude that extinguishing the Percy fire will cost $30 to $40 million, and
over $650 million to put out all nationwide fires (Glover, 1998).
Links to info about other mine fires:
Fire in the mine
Cherry mine disaster (Illinois) more than ninety years ago
Coal Fire Monitoring and Fighting in China
EARS web site about the Ningxia Coal Fire Project, China
Coal Fire Monitoring and Fighting in China
NITG-TNO pdf file about the Ningxia Coal Fire Project, China
Netherlands Earth Observation NETwork
Environmental monitoring of coal fires in North China Project Identification
Mission Report October 1993
Feuer unter China (1999)
Article in the German journal "Der Spiegel" about the numerous coal fires in
China
Sunken Fires Menace Land and
Climate (2002)
"The New York Times" reports from the impact of coal fires in coal producing
countries. Access it either at NYT home site as
web article or at ITC Coal Fire Homepage as
scanned article.
Chronologies of Recent Mine Fires
MSHA: Mine Safety and Health Administration
How China's scramble for 'black
gold' is causing a green disaster (2002)
A report in "The Daily Telegraph" from the coal fields at Ningxia, north west
China, on one of the world's little-known environmental catastrophes. Access
it either at DT home site as
web article or at ITC Coal Fire Homepage as
scanned article.
The
Fire Below
Spontaneous Combustion in Coal
Hidden Coal Fires Create Visible Problems
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