The mine is temporarily closed because of a fire that occurred on February 13.

 

The fire occurred in the area near the bottom of the slope entry that is used to carry coal from the mine to the surface. The active mining area is about 4.5 miles from the fire. The mine was evacuated and all openings into the mine have been temporarily sealed in order to cut off oxygen to the fire.

 

As an additional means of fire suppression, water is being pumped into the mine through a borehole drilled from the surface. Two more boreholes are being drilled.

 

The Loveridge Mine was idle during 2002. In late December, the mine began limited coal production with four continuous mining machines. An area was being developed underground for the installation of a longwall mining system later this year.