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`DEC 11 '01 08~36AM MSHA <br />1 <br />U. 8. t)epartmant of Labor <br />Coal Mine Safety and Health <br />District 9 <br />Delta, Colorado Field Office <br />Delta, Colorado <br />Mine Sare[y and HeaIL~ Administration <br />December 6, 2001 <br />MEMORANDUM FOR ALLYN C. DAMS <br />THROUGH: RICHARD GATES <br />`^~~. n Programs <br />W <br />Supervisory CMS&H Ina or <br />FROM: LARRY W. NEII, w <br />Coal Mine SBtH Inspector <br />SUB7ECT: Fire -Roadside North Portal, I.D. No. OS-03012 <br />P.1 <br /> <br />On December 3, 2001, the Delta Field Office was notified at 10:05 a.m. that there was a fire at <br />the Roadside North Portal mine site, After arriving on the steno, flames up to 15 feet high were <br />visible at the #1 portal. The flames were confined in the bottom section of the steel structure for <br />the old fan shaft entry. The primary fuel appeared to be CH4 gas burning. <br />A 103(x) order was issued at that time to insure the safety of persons on the mine site, The (k) <br />order was then modified to allow the local fire department to use water and foam to extinguish <br />the fire from a safe location. After the fire was extinguished (4000 gallons of water used), the <br />operator poured 18 cubic yards of cement into the steel slructure. <br />The next morning on December 4, 2001, the atmosphere was checked using a TMX-412 multi- <br />gas detector. The atmosphere was checked at the top of the steel structure about 10 feet above <br />the mine opening. The hand-held reading was 02 - 13.9%, CO - O ppm sad CH4 was in excess <br />of 5% The methane sensor went into over range almost immediately. Three air samples were <br />collected at that time, W99D4, W990i5, end W9925. Also, warm air from the mine could be felt <br />at this location. The operator had an additiona124 cubic yards of cement poured into the steel <br />structure at that time, which completely covered the portal opening, <br />On December 5, 2001, the hand held reading at the top of file steel structure showed 02 - 20.9%, <br />CH4 - 0.0%, and CO - 0 ppm. The (K) Order was terminated at that time, An investigation was <br />conducted to determine the cause of the fire. The investigation revealed that the contractor had <br />used torches and chop saws to dismantle the fanhousing, approximately 3 weeks prior to the fire. <br />No testa for CH4 had been conducted prior to or duririg cutting operations of the steel structure. <br />