What is the object of sealing a mine fire?

The object of sealing a mine fire is primarily to cut off the supply of oxygen. When a fire burns, it requires three key elements: fuel, heat, and oxygen, often referred to as the fire triangle. By sealing off the affected area of the mine, ventilation is restricted, thereby limiting the amount of oxygen that can reach the fire. This is a critical method used to combat mine fires because, without sufficient oxygen, the flames cannot sustain themselves, which ultimately helps in extinguishing the fire over time.

Sealing is part of a broader strategy to manage and control mine fires safely, prioritizing the protection of workers and the integrity of the mine. Controlling the environment in which the fire exists is essential for long-term fire management.

While containing smoke may be an ancillary benefit of sealing, and cooling the area might be a part of other firefighting strategies, those actions do not directly address the primary goal of extinguishing a mine fire. Immediate extinguishing of flames is often not feasible in the context of mine fires, making oxygen deprivation through sealing the most effective approach.