On February 20, 2004, a spontaneous combustion fire was identified in the active longwall gob at the West Ridge underground coal mine. Control of the spontaneous combustion event, along with the safe removal of the longwall equipment, were the priorities of the mine fire control and recovery operation. The longwall face was advanced approximately 6 m to enable removal of face equipment, while ventilation rates and airflow patterns in and around the gob were maintained as much as possible. While recovery operations continued, air samples were collected for analysis by gas chromatograph. Final sealing and pressure-balancing of the area required coordination of teams of miners completing seventy-six seals while injecting carbon dioxide into the gob. This paper discusses the details concerning the fire, gas sampling, seal construction and ventilation adjustments, which enabled the mine to control the fire and resume coal production in 24 days after its discovery.
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