ABSTRACT
Fires in open cast coal mines are rather easier to control, prevent or combat—than the underground fires. Like the UG fires, they may also originate both from endogenous heating and/or exogenous causes. Endogenous heating is mainly responsible for both the appearances of fire patches in the OC benches, as well as in cases of fires in mines where developed pillars or, subsided zones are extracted out by open cast methods. The safe zone in coal bench is reached, as soon as the solid coal wall is met deep within, usually upto 2m from the exposed surface. Prevention of heating in open cast benches is not much difficult. The exposed coal benches that are likely to remain idle for more than its incubation period, can be made virtually impermeable to air entry applying a coat of suitable protective coating/sealant over the surface.
