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The fire broke out about 10am local time Saturday at the Viper Mine, which is owned by the International Coal Group, also the owner of the Sago Mine in West Virginia where 12 miners died in January. The mine is located about 10 miles northeast of Springfield.
The blaze began around the mine’s belt system that brings coal up the 300-foot production shaft.
Three employees were in the immediate area of the fire, in an elevator in the production shaft, but managed to escape when they felt the heat from the blaze. As many as 20 workers were in other parts of the large mine and were also evacuated, the State Journal-Register reported.
Viper Mine has been cited for safety violations more than 120 times since ICG Illinois took over its operation in September 2004, the paper reported.
The surface building over the production shaft was on fire when firefighters arrived but was quickly extinguished. The underground blaze continued to burn and was brought under control by about 1pm local time.
