Coal Fires

Coal Seam Fires: Coal can burn unchecked, while still in the ground.

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Because coal is so readily combustible, it is possible for coal deposits to catch fire while still in the ground. These coal seam fires are a large problem throughout the world, with hundreds of known fires in the US alone. The most famous of these is the Centralia coal seam fire in Pennsylvania which has been burning since 1962 and has resulted in the evacuation and abandonment of an entire town nearby. Some coal seam fires are mining related, while others are started by natural causes. These fires are a considerable environmental problem. In addition to consuming a non-renewable resource, they produce intense local pollution, emit significant amounts of greenhouse gases, and are often responsible for starting wildfires. By some estimates the coal seam fires in China alone release more carbon dioxide annually than all cars and light trucks in the United States. Coal fires are notoriously difficult to put out, and can burn continuously for centuries, or even millennia.

Coal Fires in Alaska

In Alaska there are several known coal seam fires, including fires near Usibelli Coal Mine, in Sutton near the former Jonesville coal mine site and the Wishbone Hill mine, and a burning seam in the Nenana coal fields. This last coal seam fire was determined to be the cause of the recent Rex Creek wildfires near Anderson during August 2009. The coal seam fires near Sutton were the target of a recent two year, multi-million dollar cleanup operation conducted by the Alaska Department of Natural Resources (DNR) using federal mine reclamation funds.  Putting out uncontrolled coal fires has consumed over 40% of coal mine reclamation costs in Alaska to date and represents around 11% of estimated future reclamation costs.

Natural coal fired rock

This rock is partially melted and stained red and black, probably by a natural coal fire in a seam near it.

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In addition to natural coal deposits, it is also possible for manmade accumulations of coal to catch fire. This can be the case with both waste coal deposits or in coal storage fires such as those that have sometimes plagued coal stockpiles at the Seward Coal Terminal.

Uncontrolled coal seam fires such as those described here should not be confused with the intentional and controlled ignition of coal in the process of underground coal gasification.

Date Created: Sat, 17 Apr 2010 14:23:52 -0800

Last Modified: Sat, 28 Aug 2010 03:51:38 -0800