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Mine fires and explosions

The following information and resources are being provided as part of NFPA's commitment to increasing awareness and enhancing public safety.

Learn about the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Mining and mineral processing facilities represent significant fire and explosion exposures to both personnel and production equipment and buildings. From a personnel safety standpoint, underground mining has been by far the global loss leader in fatalities and injuires for all industries.

In the 100-year period from 1900 to 1999, more than 100,000 miners died from all unintentional-injury causes, including fires and explosions, in U.S. coal mine incidents alone, an average of 1,040 a year. In the last decade, this has been reduced to 450 fatalities, or an average of 45 per year. Approximately 10-15 percent can be attributed directly to fires and explosions.

Life-threatening incidents, though more common in coal mines, have also occurred in the noncoal (metal and nonmetal) mining industry. In the same 100-year period ending 1999, approximately 23,000 miners died in various incidents in noncoal mines, including fire and explosions. Recent advances in mining and safety technologies and the promulgation of more stringent government regulations have significantly reduced fatalities from underground mine fires and explosions.

FREE NFPA REPORT: Coal Mine Fires and Explosions with Three or More Deaths, 1985-2005, (PDF, 32 KB)

Documented mine disasters (5 or more deaths)

Historic period		Coal mines		Metal/ nonmetal mines		Total
Through 1875		19		4		23
1876-1900		101		17		118
1901-1925		30		51		356
1926-1950		147		23		170
1951-1975		35		9		44
1975-present		13		1		14

Source: NFPA's Fire Protection Handbook, 19th Edition.

 

10 deadliest U.S. mining fires and explosions

Location	Date	Number of deaths
Monongha, WV	December 6, 1907	361
Mather, PA	May 19, 1928	273
Dawson, NM	October 22, 1913	263
Cherry, IL	November 13, 1909	259
Jacobs Creek, PA	December 19, 1907	239
Scofield, UT	May 1, 1900	200
Coal Creek, TN	May 19, 1902	184
Eccles, WV	April 28, 1914	181
Chewick, PA	January 25, 1904	179
Castle Gate, UT	March 8, 1924	171

Source: NFPA major-incident files; U.S. Bureau of Mines, The World Almanac and Book of Facts 1988 and The Great International Disaster Book by James Cornell.

Five deadliest U.S. coal mine disasters since 1940

Location	Date	Number of deaths
West Frankfort, IL	December 21, 1951	119
Centralia, IL	March 25, 1947	111
Bartley, WV	January 10, 1940	91
Farmington, WV	November 20, 1968	78
St. Clairsville, OH	March 16, 1940	72

Source: NFPA's Fire Protection Handbook, 19th Edition.

NFPA codes, standards, and recommended practices
Reference to the following NFPA documents will provide further information on mining methods and equipment:

• NFPA 10, Portable Fire Extinguishers
• NFPA 11, Medium- and High-Expansion Foam Systems
• NFPA 12A, Halon 1301 Fire Extinguishing Systems
• NFPA 17, Dry Chemical Extinguishing Systems
• NFPA 30, Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code
• NFPA 51, Design and Installation of Oxygen-Fuel Gas Systems for Welding, Cutting, and Allied Processes
• NFPA 51B, Fire Prevention During Welding, Cutting, and Other Hot Work
• NFPA 70®, National Electrical Code®
• NFPA 120, Fire Prevention and Control in Coal Mines
• NFPA 122, Fire Prevention and Control in Underground Metal and Nonmetal Mines
• NFPA 123, Fire Prevention and Control in Underground Bituminous Coal Mines
• NFPA 495, Explosive Materials Code

Also see Section 9, Chapter 16, Mining and Mineral Processing, of NFPA's Fire Protection Handbook, 19th Edition.

Other resources

• Mine Safety and Health Administration: Protecting miners' safety and health since 1978
• NIOSH Mining and Safety Health Research: Improving mine safety and health through research and education