| OCR Text |
Show Impact of explosion on equipment can be seen in this photo of transformer at Ticaboo mine. Garfield County law enforcement of ficers are continuing their investigation with sabotage suspected. Thirteen employees, to date, have been terminated. Thirteen Employees Fired After Ticaboo Explosion Investigation TICABOO Investigation continued at the site of last week's explosion at the Lucky Strike mine owned by Plateau Resources of Grand Junction, Colo. The mine is located in Shoot-A-Ring Canyon near Ticaboo in southeastern Garfield County. Thirteen employees of the company, found to be in violation of one or more of the company's policies, were terminated. Several of the infractions were suspected of being drug-related and mine owners indicated they will take further measures to deal with any future violations of either company policy or Utah state law. Investigating authorities have suspected sabotage in the dynamite explosion which occurred at the 8,000 foot level of the mine at 10: 40 p.m . January 13. The blast destroyed a main transformer and damaged a generator which supplied lights and power to the mine. The explosion tripped a breaker on the generator, marking the exact time of the explosion and causing a brief power outage until backup generators took over. Discovery was not made until the next day when day shift mine workers noticed they had no power for their fans, and in checking for the cause, discovered considerable damage. Mine company respresentatives immediately notified the Garfield County Sheriff's Department inPanguitch, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms in Salt Lake City and the Division of Mine Safety and Health in Moab. Sheriff Don Mosier and Deputy John Niemann investigated the incident, with Niemann remaining to do follow-up interrogation of mine employees not Some of the damages from explosion last week at mine near Ticaboo can be seen in this exclusive photo. previously interviewed in a search for possible information relating to the bombing incident. Damages were noted to main transformer and genetator which supplied power to (he mine. |
