Mine workers OK, returning to surface after fire

About 300 workers at a Mosaic potash mine near Esterhazy, Sask. are returning to the surface, uninjured, following a fire Monday morning.

Company officials said the workers spent the day underground, after the fire was extinguished, to ensure the air quality was safe for their return to the surface.

They said a fire broke out around 10:30 a.m. CST.

The cause was under investigation.

Esterhazy is about 225 kilometres east of Regina.

The incident Monday was reminiscent of another long wait for miners at a different potash mine in Saskatchewan where a fire broke out Sept. 25.

In that case, workers at a PotashCorp mine near Rocanville, Sask. spent several hours in safe rooms following an early morning fire. Everyone returned to the surface, unhurt.