Fire at Saskatchewan potash mine traps 70 miners; no injuries reported - CP, Macleans.ca
The miners, who had been at work since 7 p.m. on Saturday night, reported smoke and then headed for the safe refuge rooms while they waited for firefighters to quench the blaze and air quality in the mine to improve.
The safe rooms, which can be as large as 15 metres by 45 metres, have an internal supply of oxygen that lasts up to 36 hours, along with food, water, chairs, beds and blankets.
Hamilton did not want to speculate on what caused the fire at the mine, which was Saskatchewan's first potash operation when it opened in 1962. It is located near Esterhazy, about 210 kilometres northeast of Regina.
Teams of six rescue personnel have been going into the mine for a few hours at a time, beginning at about 5 a.m.