GALLUP, N.M. (KRQE) – Two underground coal fires that were emitting toxic gases and threatening to disrupt infrastructure projects near the City of Gallup and nearby tribal communities have been extinguished by the New Mexico Mining and Minerals Division. The fires had been smoldering at least since 2011 at separate abandoned mine sites. “This project is […]
GALLUP, N.M. (KRQE) – Two underground coal fires that were emitting toxic gases and threatening to disrupt infrastructure projects near the City of Gallup and nearby tribal communities have been extinguished by the New Mexico Mining and Minerals Division.
The fires had been smoldering at least since 2011 at separate abandoned mine sites.
“This project is another example of the outstanding work MMD does to mitigate the potential harm abandoned mine spaces can have on our environment,” EMNRD Sec. Designate Melanie Kenderdine said in a news release. “Tackling these underground coal fires is especially important because they have the potential to spark wildfires in addition to other damage.”
The Enterprise-Brown and Navajo No. 1 mines operated from late-1800’s to early-1900’s before any environmental regulations existed. In 1891, a mine fire broke out near the Navajo No. 1 fire which led to the mine being sealed in 1905.