Description

Towards the end of the year an underground fire occurred in Murton Colliery. Durham. The fire originated at the return wheel of the main and tail haulage in a landing in the main coal seam when 15 men and boys were on the inbye side of the landing, and resulted in the death of four hewers, who succumbed on their way outbye and when only about 30 yards off the fire. The fire was caused by the tail rope jumping over the flange of the wheel and cutting into the axle, thereby producing sparks which set fire to the wood framing. The wheel was fixed under the roadway and the timber frame was saturated with lubricating oil. The wheel was covered by 3-inch wood battens. Word was quickly sent inbye to the deputy and outbye to the manager. The deputy collected all the men in one flat and sent them outbye by the return airway, but he was unable to bring out the men in another flat. The fire quickly assumed serious dimensions. The manager and his assistants were quickly on the spot, but very unfortunately the Rescue Brigade was not telephoned for at once. The colliery brigades were not sent for until an hour after the fire started and did not arrive at the fire until two hours after its commencement. The Houghton Rescue Brigade were not telephoned for until about four hours had elapsed. Whilst not belittling the work of those who actually fought the fire one cannot but comment upon the great error in not calling up the Rescue Station Brigades at once. The accident draws attention to several very important points, as follows :— It is very desirable that these return wheels should be fixed in a steel frame of girders and built in either with masonry or concrete. They should be covered by iron sheeting. The fire was checked and then extinguished by water which was laid on into the landing. In dry and dusty mines such water mains may be of the utmost utility. On this occasion there was no danger of a coal dust explosion because inert dust had been used on the roadways. Where rescue teams are kept up at a colliery it is very necessary that there should be some very ready means of communicating with the various members so that the men may be on the spot ready for action at a few minutes notice. Another point is the necessity or otherwise of a regulation to the effect that the manager of any mine should telephone to the nearest Rescue Station as soon as he knows that a fire has started underground unless he knows as a certain fact that no possible danger arises. Nearly all managers would do this, but apparently there are some who might hesitate too long. Very few fires occur underground, so that it would not mean calling out the brigades often and it may easily be the means of saving life. At the Coroner's inquest the verdict of the jury was "They met their deaths accidentally from fumes arising from the fire."

Tombstone

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