Show conquers 70 year blaze millions of tons of coal Is saved in the shallow wyoming deposits GILLETTE WYO wyoming companies fighting a series of coal blazes which have burned unchecked for at least 70 years are nearing success in their six year old battle in the little thunder basin near gillette the enrollees who have controlled many of the small fires that experts estimate have destroyed millions of tons of wyoming coal have been at their task since the corps was formed in 1933 although the area affected by the flames involves only a minute portion of the states tons of coal supply officials said they hoped to extinguish all the fires because the near surface location of the deposits makes them of great economic value source still mystery source of the underground blazes remains a mystery officials estimate that they were started in early settlement days probably by a prairie fire or from a bolt of lightning until 1933 no effort was made to check the loss of hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of coal because of the states unlimited supply most coal fires are fought with water but these jobs called for different tactics R L allport district mining supervisor of billings mont was named technical adviser when the work was begun in 1933 we learned he explained that strangely enough whenever rain or surface water seeped into the burning veins explosions opened new fuel for the flames therefore water as an extinguisher was useless unless we could obtain sufficient quantities to drown the entire area and keep it in that condition for a long time this was impossible because the water supply virtually was nonexistent dirt chokes off air seasoned coal field workers conferred with allport finally they decided upon a smothering and covering erin g process as best suited to their needs all cracks and fissures in the shallow mines were filled carefully to prevent air from reaching the blazes fine dirt then was distributed tri buted with two halfyard half yard excava tors aided by tractors bulldozers and road rippers dippers rip pers the method proved a slow but sure success now almost six years after start of the program allport admits that his assistants have made definite progress how long it will take to subdue completely the numerous fires in this region however he refused to say allport ailport explained that as the work is very dangerous enrollees are trained for several weeks before being allowed on the scene seasoned miners from wyoming fields supervise the work despite the danger he said no member of the various crews has been injured proper preventive measures and careful training established the safety record allport said |