Fire Down Below: Fire Hits Soudan Underground Mine State Park
March 17, 2011 — A stubborn fire, reportedly touched off by a welding project, presented a real challenge to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and firefighters from the communities of Tower and Breitung Township. According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the fire, reported during the evening hours of March 17, was deep within the Soudan Underground Mine State Park near Tower. The fire was reported around 9:00 p.m. when fire alarms began sounding from the 27th level of the mine. Park personnel determined that the fire was burning between the 23rd and 25th levels. Thousands of gallons of water and foam were sprayed into the mine's main shaft. Afterward, a crew traveled down to the lowest level of the mine, which houses the University of Minnesota's physics lab. Equipment in the lab is valued as high as $100 million. The extent of damage of the lab is still being determined. An investigation into the cause of the fire was conducted by the Minnesota State Fire Marshall's Office. No injuries were reported and repair work in the mine is continuing. The park remains closed to the public.
Photo: Minnesota DNR
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