PURPOSE:  To provide, through technology testing and improvement, more reliable remote mine fire suppression technology and to directly transfer these improvements to the coal mining industry.

RESEARCH SUMMARY:  Mine fires constitute one of the greatest threats to the health and safety of those working underground. Since 2000, a total of 17 mine fires have occurred in the United States. On average, three mine fires occur each year and over the period from 2000 to the present, a maximum of five mine fires have occurred in a one-year period. These statistics suggest that mine fires are occurring with alarming regularity, yet there has been no improvement in the technology for fighting a mine fire. Although not all mine fires cause fatalities, they have the potential for catastrophic results. Improvements in remote fire fighting technology are needed to reduce miner exposure and possibly save the lives of those that may become trapped.

Mine seals are often constructed when access to the fire zone is impossible. A correctly constructed mine seal is designed to close-off the mine opening to prevent the inflow of oxygen and isolate a fire zone. Underground observations suggest that the currently available technology used to construct remote mine seals often fails to fully close the mine opening. Thus it is impossible render the mine atmosphere inert because air can move freely move into the fire zone. Remote fire-fighting methods are usually restricted to sealing the mine and inerting the mine with gas. This results in dangerous atmospheric conditions that are extremely hazardous to mine rescue and recovery personnel. Gas-enriched foam systems have recently been used to remotely fight underground fires, but they have not been fully evaluated in a controlled mine environment to determine the best chemical formulation and method for application. It is believed that gas-enhanced foam offers promise given a sufficient underground life and the capability to efficiently move and migrate through a mine opening to the fire.

Remote mine seal construction and gas-enhanced foam technology are being tested and evaluated in the Lake Lynn Experimental Mine. At this site, full-scale explosions and deep-seated mine fires can be initiated to test technology under real-life conditions. The goal of this work is to fully integrate the improved technology into the mine fire-fighting arsenal very soon after completion of the work. This will be accomplished through a focused, industry-wide Technology Transfer effort and direct interaction with the state and federal regulatory officials who manage and monitor mine fire suppression efforts.