This Part of Utah is Burning Underground and There Isn’t Much We Can Do About It

Underground coal fires can smolder for years, and that’s what is happening in the abandoned Kenilworth Coal Mine in central Utah. The only way to stop these underground fires is to choke off the air supplying the blaze. 

Fire Has Been Monitored Since 2021 and Increased Three Years Later 

Coal seams in the earth can catch fire, and there are hundreds of these burning in locations throughout the world. This old coal mine was found to be burning in 2021although there have been reported fires going back a century. 

In 2024, significant smoke began pouring from the mine. A team of fire fighters were sent in to assess what could be done about it. They discovered air shafts and a place that had opened in the ground that was feeding oxygen to the burning seam of coal. 

Underground Coal Fires are Extremely Difficult to Put Out 

These fires are underground in a layer of coal and are difficult to access. Many ideas have been tried to extinguish the burn with limited success. Pouring fire retardant liquids into the ground can slow down the fire but usually doesn’t put it out. 

The other option is to starve it of oxygen. This is what they have done at this abandoned mine in Carbon County. The team of fire fighters were able to locate places where oxygen was entering the mine. 

Read More: Look: Person Broke Into Abandoned Mine in Utah

Using expanding foam, they were able to seal off these openings. This has slowed down the burn, and the smoke pouring out has slowed to a trickle. They do not think the fire is extinguished, however. They will continue to monitor it for future flare ups.