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iii iiiiiiiuiu iii Likely blaze shuts mine Fells monitor site; idled workers fret By Jim Hughes Denver Post SteN Writer A probable underground fire this week forced the closure of the Sanborn Creek Mine in Somerset, a situation that has put 177 residents of the small Lown temporarily out of work. Signs of a fire -high carbon monox- ide levels and traces of smoke -were detected in the rnal mine Tuesday even- ing, mine manager Walt Wright said. Although no one saw flames, the likeli- hood of fire was deemed serious enough [o shut down the mine about midnight Tuesday, he said. All five portals into the mine, which has been producing coal since 1902, were filled with dirt to seal off the fire's external oxygen supply. If there is a Lire within the mine, it probably started in coal dust littering freshly mined underground tunnels, Wright said. "The most likely source would be spontaneous combustion," be said. "Mother Nature puts pressure on it, and some coals are prone to spontaneous combustion." Wright said the closure was ordered to save the mine from being consumed by the suspected tire. "If there were a [ire and it were to gel out of control, it could destroy the Probable fire forces temporary mine closure After detecting high carbon monrndde levels and traces of smoke this week, Oxbow Mining Inc. temporarily shut down operatxxts at its Sanborn Creek Coal Mine near Somerset. ~ ~ ~µt ~r ~~~~ a~~a~~ ~ ,~ ~~ ,~. , y,.. ~-~ ~ ~~~ . Site of a Mine ~~~ r x >^ ~,~C~ ~;. . ~a~ .. ,~ ~ :>. O ~ 1'1 `~~ ~' :~ The Denrer Post mine," he said. "We feel we have it up,•, der control and we are currently make ing plans with the Mine Safety ang. Health Administration to monitor 14a., atmosphere inside the mine." Tim Thompson, deputy administrator` for the agency, said underground coal- mine fires are not that unusual. "I wish it were rarer;' he said. "Cer-, fain coal seams are susceptible to spon- taneous combustion, and this is oae "d(; them." r Though it's unknown whether flames actually broke out, the high levels of gases typically associated with fires, was cause enough to shut down add. evacuate the mine, Thompson said. "Some event has occurred," he said: "There is a possibility that there is thee` mat heating of some type that is not qet a fire, but it's definitely an emergency, type situation." Technicians with Thompson's agency are in Somerset and will monitor thg. mine's interior atmosphere until they determine it is safe to re-enter.