FIRE IN A MINE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18457, 21 July 1923, Page 9

FIRE IN A MINE.

BROKEN HILL OUTBREAK.. . SMOKE IMPEDES FIREMEN., A' DANGEROUS TASK. / The fire-fighters who are attempting to" "~ - cope- with the outbreak in the- Broken , Hill Central Mine are faced with a difficult and dangerous task owing to the; dense smoke in the workings. The.outbreak was discovered by some of the after-.'•- . noon shiftmen on the, 400 ft. level, and officials located it in 4L, winze, at the . couth end- It was found possible to approach the fire from the 500 ft. level.

Details in the Australian files received by yesterday's mail state that all the workmen were brought 'to tuo surface when the fire was discovered and, accord-... tag ,to their statements the wonting place where the fir© is burning is one ci" the most heavily timbered in the mine, it is expected that the fire will not be . extinguished for some time. The firemen and the mine officials are showing signs of the severe ordeaL A message from Broken Hill to the Sydney Morning Herald last Thursday stated: " All night firemen and mine employees were engaged in unsuojesstul attempts to reach the seat of the fire in the 400 ft. level of the mine. Attempts are to be made to flood the fire area through an. old Bhaft. District Fire Officer Smith stated that all through the night the firemen had strenuously fought the flames, and although they were close to the seat of the fire they were driven back. They were waiting on the plat through the early hours of the. morning in the hope that the gases would drift away so as to. enable them to get back to their fire-fighting operations. After daylight the gas became, overpowering, and they were forced to come to the sur-, face. Some firemen state that while they were on the plat waiting the gas seemed to come in gusts,-and they think that they heard a Jot of falling; ground. Mr. B. T. Slee, manager of the Proprietary mine, Mr. N. J. Roberts, underground manager Central • mine, Mr. V. Farrier, Government inspector of mines, and Mr. W.. E. ' Gardner, assistant manager Central mine, were :'. in consultation for the greater part of the morning. They visited th workings, and went; as. close as possible to the seat of trie fire. Later they came to the surfaoe, and mad© an. inspection of various shafts and holes made by the great creep. They also consulted with District-Officer Smith, wid finally decided to flood the fire area.' Lines will be put down some of tho holes made by the creep in the hope that the water poured down will reach the fire. Mr. Slee has had considerable experience with underground fire-fighting in the'...'Proprietary mine. Fire-Officer Smith states that down holow nothing much could be seen, but he considered that the fire was burning - chiefly above the 4Coft. level. It was difficult to tell just what part was being directly attacked. Mr. J. Beerworth, check inspector said : " From my point of view the fire could not have started in a worse part of the mine. It is very heavily timbered, and. the timber is very dry. Had the fire occurred at a lower level it could probably have < been flooded, but it is doubtful whether flooding will be effective. About TOO men will bo affected.", :~ ;

A mining expert who was questioned said that it might.. be weeks, or even months, before the flames could be extinguished. '•' For, instance, fires' in \. the Proprietary nfine, in:some cases, burned for. .years.';,. It is ; expected' that the experience gained' by' the officials" of the Proprietary ■ mine in fighting those : fires will; be most' 'valuable in solving the problem of extintrnishing r "the present conI flagration. ■ : With the Central mine, howlever, there are other 'dangers.: .-. .;