Fire at Grosvenor Coal Mine in Queensland

Queensland’s largest underground coal mine, Grosvenor Coal Mine, has been burning for five days, as reported by ABC News Australia.

The fire, ignited by a spark that triggered methane gas, forced the safe evacuation of workers on Saturday morning.

The mine, located near Moranbah in Central Queensland, employs approximately 1,400 people.

Efforts to control the fire involve sealing the mine to cut off oxygen.

Remote control bulldozers are pushing dirt towards the shafts, as it is too dangerous for humans to be present.

The fire, burning up to half a kilometre underground, is fuelled by methane gas and coal.

This incident follows a 2020 explosion at the same mine that injured five workers and led to its closure until February 2022.

Sealing operations and technology

The sealing process is critical to extinguishing the fire, according to ABC News Australia.

Three remote-controlled bulldozers are currently assisting in sealing the mine shafts with dirt and rocks.

Anglo American, the mine’s owner, emphasised the importance of remote control technology in their response.

Industrial-level expanding foam and a steel plate covered with dirt are used to form a plug in the shaft.

Additionally, a GAG unit, a 12-metre-long apparatus mounted on a truck, is pumping carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and water vapour into the mine to reduce oxygen levels.

GAG stands for Górniczy Agregat Gaśniczy, a Polish term meaning “mine fire suppression apparatus”.

This equipment is vital in managing the fire without human presence in hazardous areas.

Safety and historical context

Queensland has a history of coal mine fires leading to fatalities. In 1975, an explosion at the Kianga No. 1 mine killed 13 men.

The Box Flat Mine fire in Ipswich in 1972 resulted in 17 deaths, with three more fatalities during sealing attempts.

These tragedies led to advancements in safety and gas detection systems.

Stephen Smyth from the Mining and Energy Union expressed confidence in the current re-sealing plan, citing the expertise of the personnel involved: “There’s no doubt some of the best-trained people in the world are on site”.

The recent experience with similar incidents at North Goonyella in 2018 and Grosvenor in 2020 has prepared the team for this challenge.

Air quality monitoring and community impact

Anglo American reported that sealing efforts have significantly reduced the amount of oxygen available to the underground fire.

The QMRS mobile extinguisher unit (GAG) continues to aid in this effort, with a noticeable reduction in smoke levels.

Air quality monitoring around Moranbah, a town with a population of about 9,500, indicates that all readings are within acceptable limits.

“All monitors are reporting readings within acceptable limits, indicating no impact on community health from smoke or airborne contaminants,” the company stated.