114 workers safe after underground fire at Sask. potash mine
Front-end loader caught fire underground yesterday afternoon, flooded mine with smoke
More than 100 workers at PotashCorp's Allan mine are safe this morning after a fire underground.
Yesterday afternoon, at around 3:30 p.m. CST, a fire started in a front-end loader in the mine. Nearby workers quickly put the fire out, but the area had already filled with smoke.
After fire alarms were triggered, all 114 workers underground at the time were sent to shelters while the smoke was cleared.
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"Fortunately, they got the fire out quickly," said PotashCorp spokesperson Randy Burton. "It can become serious depending on the amount of smoke generated."
Emergency response teams were sent out to vent the area and check on the safety of the workers. No one was hurt, although one worker was treated at the scene for smoke inhalation.
Workers were brought out of the mine starting at 9 p.m. and everyone was out by midnight.
The mine has since been cleared of smoke. Workers are expected to start their shifts as normal this morning.
Allan, Sask. is located 60 kilometres southeast of Saskatoon.