500m exclusion zone after grader fire at Curragh North mine

A 500m exclusion zone is in place and an investigation has been launched after a grader fire at a Bowen Basin mine. Here’s what we know.

A fire broke out on a grader at Curragh North mine about 6am December 12.

A 500m exclusion zone is in place for 24 hours and investigations have been launched after a fire “destroyed” a grader at a Bowen Basin mine.

The incident, which prompted fast action from the site’s ERT members, occurred about 6am at Curragh North mine at Blackwater, about 467km inland from Mackay.

Mining watchdog Resources Safety and Health Queensland confirmed it was investigating the circumstances surrounding a fire “that destroyed a 16 Motor Grader at a coal mine near Blackwater”.

“A worker was refuelling the grader when they discovered smoke and flames coming from the rear engine this morning,” an RSHQ spokeswoman said.

The site emergency response team extinguished the fire and a 500-metre exclusion zone was established for 24 hours, she said.

A fire broke out on a grader at Curragh North mine about 6am December 12.

No one was injured from the incident.

Mine operator Coronado Global Resources confirmed there was a fire on “one of its graders at its Curragh mine this morning”.

“The fire was quickly extinguished with fire suppression procedures and emergency response practices working effectively,” a Coronado Global Resources spokeswoman said.

“The scene is being monitored as part of our standard procedures with an exclusion zone around the grader being established.”

There was a dozer incident at Curragh mine (pictured) in January 2023.

The spokeswoman said the fire had been reported to the regulator and an internal investigation was under way.

The mine operator was asked if the fire had halted productions in any capacity but did not respond to the question nor whether there had been any injuries to the operator.

Earlier this year, in January, a dozer trammed backwards into a body of water at Curragh mine while undertaking mining support activities.

The operator of the dozer was able to exit the equipment unassisted without injury and at the time a Curragh mine spokeswoman said leadership and the inspector “jointly agreed to temporarily cease dozer operations while the event is investigated”.

Originally published as 500m exclusion zone after grader fire at Curragh North mine