Abstract
In 1902, the town of Fernie, British Columbia was on the verge of becoming a major coal producer. The Crow's Nest Coal Company expected its largest yield of coal from the thick coal seams at the nearby Coal Creek mines. Another Crow's Nest mine, 40 kilometres north of Fernie, was set to go into full production that year. However, an explosion occurred deep in the number two mine at Coal Creek on evening of May 22, 1902. This article discussed the explosion and the resulting impacts that occurred from the explosion. The firedamp explosion occurred as a result of a combination of mostly methane and other flammable and inflammable gases. Since good ventilation is known to safeguard against explosive levels of methane and suffocating levels of carbon dioxide, a steam-powered fan was used at Coal Creek to generate a steady draft that exchanged the deadly gases in the mine with fresh air from outside. However, the draft created a separate hazard by drying out the mine and raising volatile coal dust. The force of the blast shot the fan house roof 200 metres into the air. Only 17 miners were able to save themselves, while another 4 were dragged from
More>>
Citation Formats
Bergen, R.
Fernie's deadliest night.
Canada: N. p.,
2009.
Web.
Bergen, R.
Fernie's deadliest night.
Canada.
Bergen, R.
2009.
"Fernie's deadliest night."
Canada.
@misc{etde_21161816,
title = {Fernie's deadliest night}
author = {Bergen, R}
abstractNote = {In 1902, the town of Fernie, British Columbia was on the verge of becoming a major coal producer. The Crow's Nest Coal Company expected its largest yield of coal from the thick coal seams at the nearby Coal Creek mines. Another Crow's Nest mine, 40 kilometres north of Fernie, was set to go into full production that year. However, an explosion occurred deep in the number two mine at Coal Creek on evening of May 22, 1902. This article discussed the explosion and the resulting impacts that occurred from the explosion. The firedamp explosion occurred as a result of a combination of mostly methane and other flammable and inflammable gases. Since good ventilation is known to safeguard against explosive levels of methane and suffocating levels of carbon dioxide, a steam-powered fan was used at Coal Creek to generate a steady draft that exchanged the deadly gases in the mine with fresh air from outside. However, the draft created a separate hazard by drying out the mine and raising volatile coal dust. The force of the blast shot the fan house roof 200 metres into the air. Only 17 miners were able to save themselves, while another 4 were dragged from the mine. Many who were not killed in the explosion died of asphyxiation due to afterdamp, the high concentration of carbon dioxide that firedamp explosions leave in their wake. The article also discussed the efforts of rescuers and devastation to the community resulting from the 109 fatalities. Some miners suggested the explosion was a result of poorly discharged blasting material, while others suspected reckless or inexperienced miners. The provincial report of that year reported that the coal mining industry in British Columbia averaged 6.6 explosion fatalities and 10.6 deaths from other accidents for every million tons of coal produced. The toll in human lives was much higher in British Columbia than in Great Britain or Pennsylvania. The report recommended a more thorough system of watering to keep the circulation of coal dust to a minimum. The damage at Coal Creek was too extensive for it to produce any more coal that year. 1 fig.}
journal = []
issue = {2}
volume = {4}
place = {Canada}
year = {2009}
month = {Mar}
}
title = {Fernie's deadliest night}
author = {Bergen, R}
abstractNote = {In 1902, the town of Fernie, British Columbia was on the verge of becoming a major coal producer. The Crow's Nest Coal Company expected its largest yield of coal from the thick coal seams at the nearby Coal Creek mines. Another Crow's Nest mine, 40 kilometres north of Fernie, was set to go into full production that year. However, an explosion occurred deep in the number two mine at Coal Creek on evening of May 22, 1902. This article discussed the explosion and the resulting impacts that occurred from the explosion. The firedamp explosion occurred as a result of a combination of mostly methane and other flammable and inflammable gases. Since good ventilation is known to safeguard against explosive levels of methane and suffocating levels of carbon dioxide, a steam-powered fan was used at Coal Creek to generate a steady draft that exchanged the deadly gases in the mine with fresh air from outside. However, the draft created a separate hazard by drying out the mine and raising volatile coal dust. The force of the blast shot the fan house roof 200 metres into the air. Only 17 miners were able to save themselves, while another 4 were dragged from the mine. Many who were not killed in the explosion died of asphyxiation due to afterdamp, the high concentration of carbon dioxide that firedamp explosions leave in their wake. The article also discussed the efforts of rescuers and devastation to the community resulting from the 109 fatalities. Some miners suggested the explosion was a result of poorly discharged blasting material, while others suspected reckless or inexperienced miners. The provincial report of that year reported that the coal mining industry in British Columbia averaged 6.6 explosion fatalities and 10.6 deaths from other accidents for every million tons of coal produced. The toll in human lives was much higher in British Columbia than in Great Britain or Pennsylvania. The report recommended a more thorough system of watering to keep the circulation of coal dust to a minimum. The damage at Coal Creek was too extensive for it to produce any more coal that year. 1 fig.}
journal = []
issue = {2}
volume = {4}
place = {Canada}
year = {2009}
month = {Mar}
}