Mine safety in coal mines, which in turn can initiate more extensive coal dust explosions. For this reason, rock dusts such as limestone dust are spread throughout coal mines to diminish the chances of coal dust explosions as well as to limit the extent of potential explosions, in a process known as rock dusting. Coal dust explosions can also begin independently of methane gas explosions. Frictional heat and sparks generated by mining equipment can ignite both methane gas and coal dust. For this reason, water is often used to cool rock-cutting sites. Miners utilize equipment strong enough to break through extremely hard
Merrimack Valley gas explosions his smoke alarm went off; as he was extinguishing it he heard a boom from a neighbor's house and the ground shook. All of the fires were put out by 6:45pm. One man was killed when a chimney fell on his car, twenty-five others were reported injured, and Lawrence General Hospital received three patients including one firefighter. Once it was realized that the fires were being caused by over-pressurized gas mains, residents whose gas is supplied by Columbia Gas were told to evacuate their homes. There is no indication that foul play was involved. Gas services for approximately 8,000 residents