The use of belt air to ventilate working sections coupled with improved fire detection capability have been the major reasons for mine operators installing carbon monoxide detection systems in belt conveyor entries of underground coal mines in the United States. The advent of carbon monoxide monitoring systems may have contributed to reducing the frequency of reportable belt fires, but prevention of the conditions that allow fires to occur is more effective than detecting and extinguishing fires after ignition occurs. An analysis of reported mine fires in belt entries shows many belt fires could have been prevented with proper maintenance of the haulage system. This paper reviews the reported belt fires in underground coal mines for the period from 1980 to 2005. Also included in this paper is an analysis of ignition sources as identified in accident reports issued by MSHA investigators, as well as the factors involved in creating ignition sources.
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