70 Canadian Miners Trapped After Fire

Shadow205 · Jan 29, 2006

POSTED: 8:08 pm CST January 29, 2006

ESTERHAZY, Saskatchewan, Canada -- Fire has broken out in a mine in central Canada, forcing some 70 miners trapped underground to retreat to emergency rooms with oxygen and supplies.

<snip>

Company spokesman Marshall Hamilton told CBC Radio the miners can stay in the refuge rooms for at least 36 hours.

Hamilton said company officials have not yet been able to establish a radio link with 30 of the miners.

It sounds like this mine is better equiped then the WV mines. These miners still need our prayers though until they are afely rescued.

blueclouds · Jan 30, 2006

In tears....

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNe...9/sk_mine_fire_060129/20060129?hub=TopStories

My husband's brother Mel, works for this mine. I was in tears waking my husband getting him to call to find out more. Mel is ok and at home but was told to try and get sleep and wake early in the morning. We woke him up with our phone call.

But he's ok and his son too. Thats what we needed to know at the moment. He said that there are still 70+ miners trapped by fire but have made contact with some.

On a side issue: apparently, it is rare that a potash mine has any trouble at all or any fires,etc....

Still, very shaken as I write this. Praying for all families on site at the moment.

God Bless them and help them all out safely.

Linda7NJ · Jan 30, 2006

Oh God!

They are all in my thoughts & I hope they are all rescued soon

alpharee · Jan 30, 2006

About 70 miners trapped in a Saskatchewan potash mine following a fire are safe and will return to the surface when the smoke has been cleared, a spokesman said.

I'm happy about the outcome!

Shadow205 · Jan 30, 2006

32 of 70 Trapped Canadian Miners Rescued

The Associated Press
Monday, January 30, 2006; 7:18 AM

ESTERHAZY, Saskatchewan -- Nearly half of the 70 miners trapped underground by a fire have been rescued, while the rest remained underground in emergency refuge rooms stocked with oxygen and supplies, a mine official said Monday.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/30/AR2006013000215.html

Blueclouds, I am so glad that your BIL was not one of the men in the mine. It sounds like these men will all be rescued but it's still a scary thing. The WV coal mines need to have the refuge rooms like this.

Linda7NJ · Jan 30, 2006

ESTERHAZY, Saskatchewan (AP) - Rescuers retrieved 67 western Canadian potash miners who had been trapped underground by a fire, but several more miners were still in subterranean emergency chambers Monday waiting for help.

:woohoo: I hope everyone one makes it!

PrayersForMaura · Jan 30, 2006

Rescuers Save 67 Canadian Miners

ESTERHAZY, Saskatchewan - Rescuers retrieved 67 western Canadian potash miners who had been trapped underground by a fire, but several more miners were still in subterranean emergency chambers Monday waiting for help.
Seventy-two miners were trapped early Sunday when a fire started in polyethylene piping more than a half-mile underground.

When toxic smoke began to fill the tunnels, the miners retreated to so-called refuge stations spacious chambers that can be sealed off and are equipped with supplies of oxygen, food and water.

More: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060130/ap_on_re_ca/canada_mine_fire

cheko1 · Jan 30, 2006

It sounds like this mine is well equipped / the owners of the mine are based in Plymouth Mn according to KSTP news this morning.

Reader · Jan 30, 2006

http://snipurl.com/m2et

ESTERHAZY, Saskatchewan (AP) -- Rescuers retrieved all 72 central Canadian potash miners who were trapped underground by a fire and survived until Monday by using oxygen, food and water stored in subterranean emergency chambers.

The rescued miners were all in good health.

PrayersForMaura · Jan 30, 2006

That is wonderful news.
:clap:

I wish all of our miners could've been saved

But I am so happy for these miners and their families.
What a miracle.

Shadow205 · Jan 30, 2006

I think that the WV coal mine owners could learn a few things from how these mines are equiped. I hope that changes are made in the WV mines before there is more lifes lost.

Marthatex · Jan 30, 2006

Why are they so much better prepared than our miners?

Food for thought.

Schmerty_Jones · Jan 30, 2006

Marthatex said:
Why are they so much better prepared than our miners?

Food for thought.

Thanks be to God & Congrats to the Canucks! Their eguipment & safety regulations are to be commended. We should insist that the US mine owners

provide better safety ,7working conditions for our fellow citizens.!

Jacklad · Jan 30, 2006

Marthatex said:
Why are they so much better prepared than our miners?

Food for thought.

As much as I would like to wave the patriotic flag, the difference isn't that we Canadians are any better prepared - the difference is in the type of mine.

Potash is non-combustible, and dust it produces is nonflammable. The only fires possible in potash mining are those involving the equipement and fittings brought into the mine. Miners in the rescue rooms can simply wait until the fire extinguishes itself.

Coal, on the other hand, is designed to burn, and the coal seams leach explosive methane gas into the mine. A fire under these conditions has plenty of fuel, and has to be aggressively fought - and even then, it may be impossible to get under control.

See http://www.offroaders.com/album/centralia/centralia.htm for an interesting article on a coal mine fire that has been burning since 1962. The Jaharia coalfield in India has been smouldering since 1916 (http://edugreen.teri.res.in/explore/n_renew/jharia.htm).

Jackie

jilly · Jan 30, 2006

Shadow205 said:
I think that the WV coal mine owners could learn a few things from how these mines are equiped. I hope that changes are made in the WV mines before there is more lifes lost.

You know I couldn't believe it when I heard that the miners in WV only had oxygen for 6-7 hours and yet it took 10-11 hours for the rescuers to get set up.

close_enough · Feb 1, 2006

Reader said:
http://snipurl.com/m2et

ESTERHAZY, Saskatchewan (AP) -- Rescuers retrieved all 72 central Canadian potash miners who were trapped underground by a fire and survived until Monday by using oxygen, food and water stored in subterranean emergency chambers.

The rescued miners were all in good health.

very glad to hear this...

70 Canadian Miners Trapped After Fire

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