Fire Reported at Alabama Coal Mine Near Tuscaloosa, Jefferson and Walker Counties

A fire broke out Wednesday at a coal mine on the banks of the Black Warrior River in West Central Alabama, Peabody Energy has confirmed in a press release.

According to Peabody, the fire took place at the Shoal Creek Mine, which opened in 1994 and was acquired by Peabody in 2018.

The mine sits near the center of a triangle connecting Tuscaloosa, Birmingham and Jasper near Tuscaloosa, Jefferson and Walker Counties.

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Peabody said the fire involved "void fill material," which is used to stabilize the roof structure of the longwall coal mine.

Peabody confirmed in the press release that all mine personnel were safely evacuated and that a team of firefighters has been deployed to address the incident.

"At the time that team evacuated the mine, they reported that no flames were visible," Peabody said in their release. "The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) has been notified of the incident and is working with mine personnel to monitor the underground environment and determine a safe plan for mine re-entry."

The company did not say how severe the fire was or what impact it may have on the mine or its operations and said more updates would come when available.

According to Peabody, Shoal Creek employs about 419 workers and pulls metallurgical coal from the Mary Lee and Blue Creek coal seams at depths of 1,000 to 1,300 feet. Last year alone, the mine produced around 800,000 tons of coal.

For updates as they become available, stay connected to the Tuscaloosa Thread.