'Tough day for workers': 63 workers trapped underground for hours during fire at Nutrien potash mine in Sask.
No one injured, workers now at surface at Allan mine, southeast of Saskatoon
Dozens of workers had to spend several hours underground after a fire broke out at a potash mine on Tuesday morning.
Nutrien says the blaze occurred sometime after midnight at its operation near Allan, about 60 kilometres southeast of Saskatoon.
The company says 63 workers took shelter in underground refuge stations while emergency crews handled the fire.
"The emergency system was activated and everybody did what they're supposed to do," said United Steelworkers staff representative Darrin Kruger.
"We're very thankful for their training and their professionalism."
The workers were brought to the surface shortly before 8 a.m. CST
There were no reports of injuries.
The fire came on the same day Nutrien announced 80 layoffs at another Sask. potash mine in Vanscoy.
"It's a tough day for workers," said Kruger.
Operations at the the mine have been suspended until it's deemed safe to restart while smoke is vented from the mine.
Nutrien thanked its emergency response teams for their hard work.
In 2016, 114 workers at the same mine were trapped after a front-end loader started on fire.
Two years later, approximately 50 workers were trapped for 24 hours after a fire broke out in a water truck.