Coal fires are reported from coalfields in China, India, Indonesia,
Venezuela, South Africa, USA, Australia, Germany and many other
countries. But while coal fires in developed countries are mainly
under control, the technique for effective fire fighting is lacking
in newly industrializing countries.
Depending on the situation, e.g. location, depth, size or age
of the coal fire there are different techniques existing to extinguish
them. Some of the methods are listed below. They can be operated
alone or used in combination:
- Cooling down with water or injecting liquid nitrogen
- Taking out burning coal by bulldozing or blasting
- Cut-off air supply by covering and/or filling cracks with
soil or slurry
Normally the direct method is to bring the fire under control
through the use of suitable extinguishing agents or coolants (water
ect.). Loading out the fire can also be tried if the fire is not
large and is approachable. If the above attempts are not effective
and is likely to endanger the safety of the personnel - than in
such cases sealing off the fire is the only method. In the majority
of endogenous fires in mining shafts, the method of sealing off
is applied.
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