# Presentation: 175964

**ARACOMA COAL COMPANY, INC.**
**ARACOMA ALMA MINE #1**
**JANUARY 19, 2006**
**FATAL MINE FIRE**

## Mine Overview

- Rum Creek Portal

- Fire Location

- Box Cut Portal

- 3 Section  (Continuous Miner)

- Active Longwall Section

- 2 Section - 11 Headgate
- (Continuous Miner)

## Travel Routes to Affected Sections

- North West Mains

- Box Cut Portal

- Approximately 3 Miles total travel from Portal to 2 Section.

- 2 Section - 11 Headgate Development (Cont. Miner)

- North East Mains

- Active Longwall Section

## Slide 4

## Slide 5

## Slide 6

## Critical Ventilation Controls Removed Prior to Fire

- 72” Belt Structure Installed

- Stopping Removed to Install Dual Switch House (72” Belt Structure Later Installed Prior to Fire)

- Stopping Removed Prior to Fire

## Mantrip

**Mantrip**

**Origin of fire**

**Personnel Door**

## Mantrip

**Mantrip**

**Don Bragg**

**Ellery Hatfield**

**Origin of fire**

## Accident Investigation Activities

-   Examination of equipment in fire area
-   Examination of fire detection equipment
-   Mapping of critical subject materials
-   Photography (still and video) of significant areas
-   Examination of ventilation controls
-   Examination of fire suppression equipment
-   Examination of fire fighting equipment
-   Identification and collection of evidence
-   Examination of mine records

## Accident Investigation Activities

- February 8 – April 13, 2006  Interview Phase

-      83 Interviews Conducted jointly by MSHA and WV State
-   Eyewitness miners
-   Mine Rescue Teams
-   Maintenance personnel
-   Mine Examiners
-   Manufacturers and vendors
-   Mine Management personnel
-   State and Federal agency personnel
-   Local emergency management personnel

## Accident Investigation Activities

- May 2006 – March 2007
-         Analysis and Testing of Evidence Collected

-  Self-Contained Self Rescuer unit examination and testing
-  Examination and testing of AMS Alarm Unit
-  Examination and testing of belt material
-  Testing of coal samples for spontaneous combustion
-  Detailed analysis of mine records conducted
-  Review of Interview Transcripts

## Accident Investigation Activities

- May 2006 – March 2007
-   Determination of Violations
-   Identification of Contributory Violations
-   Root-Cause Analysis of Accident
-   Develop Accident Report, Maps and Figures

## Final Report

-  Identifies Ignition Source of the Fire
-  Discusses deficiencies at the mine
-  Discusses violations contributing to accident
-  Constructs 7-hour accident timeline

## Slide 15

## Slide 16

## Slide 17

## Slide 18

## Slide 19

## Slide 20

## Slide 21

**Notes:**
5:45 pm

## Slide 22

**Notes:**
5:50-5:52 pm

## Slide 23

**Notes:**
5:59 pm

**Notes:**
6:00 to 6:03 pm searching for miners

**Notes:**
6:00 to 6:03 pm searching for miners

## First AMS alert and alarm signals 5:14 p.m.

**First AMS alert and alarm signals 5:14 p.m.**

**Notes:**
6:00 pm

**Notes:**
6:13 pm

## ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION  

**CONCLUSIONS**

## CONCLUSIONS

-   The fire occurred as a result of frictional heating when the
-       longwall belt became misaligned in the 9 Headgate longwall
-       belt takeup storage unit;
-   This frictional heating ignited accumulated combustible
-      materials and the belt;
-   The lack of a fire suppression system allowed the fire to
-      spread;
-   The lack of water compromised fire fighting activities;
-   The lack of separation between the No. 7 Belt entry and the
-      primary escapeway for 2 Section allowed smoke and CO to
-      inundate the primary escapeway;

## CONCLUSIONS  (cont.)

-   Examinations of the mine were inadequate and failed to
-      identify obvious hazardous conditions;
-   Examinations of safety systems failed to identify
-      deficiencies which contributed to the severity and extent of
-      the mine fire;
-   The response to AMS alarm signals was not appropriate;
-   Miners were not evacuated when the fire presented an
-      imminent danger;
-   Escapeways were not properly marked and escapeway
-      drills were not properly conducted;

## CONCLUSIONS  (cont.)

-   The 2 Section was using belt air to ventilate the working
-      section without an approved change to the ventilation plan
-      and without implementing required additional safety
-      measures;
-   Adequate training was not provided for personnel
-      responsible for installing and maintaining the AMS;
-   Adequate training was not provided for personnel
-      responsible for responding to AMS signals.

## 25 Contributory Violations

- 4  Belt Air Regulations Violations

- 7  Examinations Violations

- 5  Fire Protection Violations

- 3  Escapeway Violations

- 1  Accumulation of Combustibles Violation

- 2  Training Violations

- 1  Equipment Maintenance Violation

- 1  Evacuation Violation

- 1  Mine Map Violation

## PROPOSED ASSESSMENT

-   25 Contributory Violations Issued;
-   Total Proposed Penalty of $1.5 Million;
-   Largest Civil Penalty Assessed as a result of
-      an MSHA Coal Mine Safety and Health
-      Accident Investigation.

## Referral for Criminal Investigation

- US Attorney, Southern District of West Virginia
- Referred March 28, 2006
- Investigation is Ongoing