Colorado Crews Plan Mitigation of Second Underground Coal Mine Fire Near Marshall Fire Origin
Crews in Colorado are actively planning mitigation efforts to address a second underground coal mine fire that poses a potential threat near the origin of the devastating Marshall Fire. The fire, located approximately a mile south of the Marshall Fire’s ignition point in Superior, was discovered in September 2022. It is believed to have been smoldering since at least 2017, when it was first detected by a resident. According to state officials, the fire is located at the abandoned Marshall Coal Mine, which operated from 1895 to 1950. The fire is estimated to be burning in a thick and inaccessible seam of coal, making it difficult to extinguish. Colorado’s Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (DRMS) is leading the mitigation efforts, which aim to prevent the fire from spreading and potentially reigniting the Marshall Fire. The plan involves: *
Constructing a containment berm:
A large earthen berm will be built to surround the fire, containing it within the mine boundary. *
Excavating and removing coal:
Coal from the immediate vicinity of the fire will be removed to create a “firebreak.” *
Drilling and injecting water:
High-pressure water will be injected into the mine to cool the coal and extinguish the fire. *
Monitoring and extinguishing adjacent fires:
Any additional fires that develop in the vicinity will be quickly detected and extinguished. DRMS Director Terry Anderson emphasized the importance of acting swiftly to mitigate the threat posed by the coal mine fire. “We are working closely with our partners to ensure that we take all necessary steps to protect the safety of our communities and prevent any further devastation,” he said. The timeline for the mitigation efforts is still being determined, but DRMS estimates that it will take several months to complete. Residents in the affected area are advised to stay informed and follow instructions from local authorities. The ongoing fire serves as a reminder of the lasting legacy of coal mining in Colorado and the potential hazards associated with abandoned mine sites. State officials are urging residents and businesses to be aware of the risk of spontaneous combustion in coal deposits and to take appropriate safety precautions.
State mine safety crews are moving forward with plans to excavate a second active underground fire later this year in the area where the most destructive wildfire in Colorado history was ignited. The Marshall Fire destroyed more than 1,000 homes on December 30, 2021. The fire was pushed through open space into the communities of Superior and Louisville by 100 mph winds. Two residents there died.
State mine safety crews are moving forward with plans to excavate a second active underground fire later this year in the area where the most destructive wildfire in Colorado history was ignited. The Marshall Fire destroyed more than 1,000 homes on December 30, 2021. The fire was pushed through open space into the communities of Superior and Louisville by 100 mph winds. Two residents there died.
RELATED Marshall Fire investigation reveals most destructive fire in Colorado history consisted of two fires (2023)
Authorities determined after an 18-month investigation that there were two ignition points: the first a smoldering woodpile on private property, the second under power lines. The latter is a point of contention, with Xcel Energy disagreeing with the researchers’ conclusions. The company is fighting lawsuits blaming his lines for at least partially causing the fire.
RELATED Researchers: Burning remains of underground coal mines possible cause of Marshall Fire (2022)
The investigation did not rule out the possibility that coal burning underground for decades contributed to the fire. Winds as strong as those experienced during the Marshall Fire could potentially pull heat from the underground coal fires to the surface.
One of those sites includes the Lewis Mines which were abandoned and buried in 1946. In 2018, a surface vent was discovered that radiated heat, measured at 120 degrees.
RELATED Disaster declaration issued for area in Boulder County to limit underground coal mine fires (2023)
Crews from Colorado’s Reclamation, Mining and Safety Department started an overhaul from the Lewis Mine site in January. Excavators have carefully cleared land bordering the Davidson Ditch, alternately digging and filling 10-foot-high “fingers” of steaming soil to prevent the concrete irrigation canal from collapsing.
Crews dug 30 feet deep and faced temperatures of up to 600 degrees. Where readings were greater than 90 degrees, crews mixed the heated soil with cool soil and rock until the temperature dropped below that mark.
The project was completed ahead of schedule in early April.
Crews now plan to break ground 2,000 feet above the Marshall mines, a DRMS spokesperson confirmed. The department is currently in the permitting process with Boulder County as the project, set to start later this summer or fall, will impact access to the county’s open space at the Marshall Mesa trailhead.
This will be the second time mitigation efforts have taken place at the Marshall mines. A vent from the mine there was blamed for causing a small forest fire in 2005. Three years later, 275 tons of rock was dumped on the site, raising the surface by 18 inches.
The recent mitigation of the Lewis Mines cost $316,002, according to department spokesman Chris Arend. The Marshall mitigation will take place now that the department has received additional federal money to address coal mine fires across the state.
According to a 2018 DRMS study, there are 1,736 known abandoned coal mines in Colorado. A contractor hired by the state to investigate them found that 38 were actively burning or were inactive and extinguished after previously burning.
Crews in Colorado are preparing to mitigate a second underground coal mine fire near the origin of the destructive Marshall Fire that ravaged Boulder County in December. The fire, located on private property about a mile north of Superior, was discovered on January 1st, just weeks after the Marshall Fire was declared fully contained. Officials believe the mine fire is related to the Marshall Fire, which was sparked by downed power lines during high winds. The Marshall Fire burned more than 6,000 acres and destroyed over 1,000 homes. The coal mine fire is burning in an abandoned underground mine that was operated from the 1870s to the early 1900s. The fire is located about 200 feet below the surface and is spreading slowly. Crews are working to mitigate the fire by drilling holes into the ground and injecting a mixture of water and foam into the mine. This will help to cool the fire and prevent it from spreading. Officials say the mitigation process could take several months to complete. There is no immediate danger to the public, but residents in the area are being asked to stay away from the mine site. The Marshall Fire was the most destructive wildfire in Colorado history. The fire caused an estimated $2 billion in damage and displaced tens of thousands of people.
