this fire is not done yet.


This is our own personal coal seam fire, east of the house. lucky us. 
We havent tried to put this one out, because these are dangerous when water is applied. 
Thats why the firefighters are sitting in the cab. They said they would stop spraying if the wind switches towards the house.
Lucky for us it didnt.


A coal seam fire happens when "brown" coal (lower substrate under the ground) catches on fire and starts to burn underground. It can burn for years if not caught in its early stages. And thats not good because it can flare up when things start to grow again, starting another wildfire. They say you can tell a coal seam fire by the heat it gives off from the ground, or by a nearby white ash opening in the rocks. The gas it produces when water hits is noxious, and basically can suffocate living things, so they usually start by trying to dig it out to expose the coal - then apply water from a distance/protected area to finish it off.  In a few days they will come out and check it again to make sure it is out. 

How dangerous are these?

this happened at the neighbors who lost their house about 2 miles aways~

July 14, 2012 6:30 pm  •  
GREAT FALLS  – Seven firefighters working the Taylor Creek Fire received medical treatment after trying to mop up a hot spot that turned out to be a surface coal seam.  Officials say the firefighters on Friday suffered nausea due to exposure to sulfur dioxide and were taken to the Ashland Clinic where they were treated and released, returning to duty the same day.  The Taylor Creek Fire is part of the Southeastern Montana Complex that on Saturday had consumed about 508 square miles.


...




So im not sure what we have done to anger it, 




but im
pretty sure 




SE Montana is now trying to kill us...

~


Comments

  1. this just seems never-ending. the coal seam would worry me (and i know it is worrying you). you have had your fair share since moving to MT. is WI calling you home?

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  2. Yeesh. Actually the word I really want starts with a different letter...

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  3. So unfair that it continues! Be strong.

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  4. hmm I guess no place is safe, earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, wild fires, floods, and now coal seams? Never heard of them before now, that is scary. Must not be a way of smothering them with dirt to cut off the oxygen to put that kind of fire out. Take care, stay safe, good luck.

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  5. Gosh, I wish I knew what to say. I just hope it will get better everyday. I know that you know that fires like these in the plains and mountains are almost essential to nature. Problem is we are now in the way, us humans, trying to have a good life. So, please hang in there. It will get better! Thinking of you!

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  6. That coal seam sounds scary! I have never heard of such a thing. Maybe I just didn't know about these things in my earlier years, but boy there are lots of angry planet things going on.I'm scared of storms and tornadoes since we had one here once. I'm glad the fire department is nearby for that seam. They must be really overworked at this point and time. I hope you are holding up okay. I hope your critters(babies) are healing well. Take care of yourself.

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  7. Oh how much worry can one Feral take?
    I know you must be getting weary but things have to get better my dear Feral.
    I have never heard of this but since we have a natural gas and oil pipeline running through our farm I can understand the worry.
    Hold tight my dear Feral you are in good hands I am sure now.
    Look around, you are sitting in your house with your Foresterman, and the wind has to turn in your favour eventually. Someone is looking after you it is just hard to see. Hugs B

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  8. And we now have mining companies taking up their "mineral rights" options and coming onto rural properties and "Fracking" - a process where sub-surface rock layers are 'fractured', releasing natural gas - which they then capture and transport by tankers or pipelines to processing centres.

    They say its "safe" but farmers report finding cattle dead in the vicinity and plant life dying off. The miners cannot be stopped as they own the mineral rights which also give them 'right of access.
    Has led to some nasty (armed) confrontations between farmers and miners.

    I wonder how long before one of these exposed gas seams ignites?

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  9. I had no idea this could happen, I've never heard of it. I would be really worried too and I understand that you are. I remember how happy you were with Montana and I so hope this all will pass and that somehow you can get those feelings back again. Right now it seems to bad though. I hope you are able to rest some at least. Finally, thank you so much for commenting on our fire here. It's still going on with helicopters flying overhead, dumping water on the nearest fire, but it will soon be contained, I'm sure of it.

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  10. Wow, that does sound really alarming!!!
    You must be getting to the end of your tether by now. Hopefully it will be all sorted soon and you can get back to normal life again.
    I think I always say it, but again - Take care!!!

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  11. Well i am glad that they identified this and hopefully have taken care of it.... At least following up on it. Much better than not even knowing it was there, which does seem like a possibility. Glad to see them working on it and following up!

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  12. Oh, and wondering how Tomez is doing?

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  13. Wow, I had never heard of this either, how scary! I hope the firefighters are able to get it put out.
    Hang in there, we are all wishing the best for you!

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  14. I'm familiar with this, there is a coal seam burning above the town of Sparwood where I used to live. I don't want to alarm you- but it's been burning for many years- that whole mountain is made of coal. I hope they get it doused thoroughly.

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  15. We had a big prairie fire three years ago....9 big coal seams started on fire. This winter we had a pretty good fire that started from one of the coal seams....I have been praying for you nightly.

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  16. As others said, I've never heard of coal seam fires. Frightening and discouraging to say the least. I can't imagine what you are living through . . . I want you safe!

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  17. I am speechless- how awful, to think it is over and it really isn't!

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  18. Oh wow! I've heard of these before. My grandfather and my uncle were both coal miners, but I've never 'known' anyone directly affected by a coal seam fire.
    I wonder how the original fire actually begins? It's not like a wildfire that sparks from lightning strikes, right?

    I'm sorry this is so close to your home and I hope it doesn't cause any damage to your home, family or property.


    ~Lisa

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  19. Never heard of such a thing. Are you living in your house now? How are all the animals doing?

    Let's hope they put that underground fire out and you can have a moment of peace and quiet.

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  20. It makes sense... as long as the fire has access to fuel and oxygen.... it will burn!
    I hope they get it out!

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  21. Não tenho palavras para expressar meus sentimentos pelo que aconteceu.Fiquei muito impressionada com Tomez,apesar de tudo foi seu dia de sorte,pois foi resgatado por voces,que tantos cuidados e amor estão lhe dando.Gostaria muito de ter noticias dele,pois também adoro animais e fiquei bem angustiada de vê-lo naquele estado.Espero de coração que todos estejam bem e que tenham uma rápida recuperação pelo todo que sofreram.Um grande abraço aqui do sul do Brasil.

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  22. Stay strong - you will get through this too.

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  23. There's an entire town in PA that has these fires underneath its entire base. The fires have been burning for 40 years and the town has been abandoned because of them. I've been there and it's unreal. So scary! Hope this one gets under control ASAP.

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  24. Sorry you had to endure the unseemly behaviour of a coal fire. Once those things get established underground, they can be very dangerous, and very difficult to fight. As you recognize.

    But that doesn't mean Montana is out to get you. Just a bit of a hiccup on a strange afternoon. You'll rebuild. I'll leave it at that.

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  25. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  26. Have faith we are praying for you and we hope with all sincerity that the bad times pass by quickly now.
    Best wishes Molly

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  27. Will it not be enough now??? Very scary that underground fires. I hope you have manage to get your house in order and your horses got more to feed. I hope rest of US will help you all ...how is Tomez doing??
    We are thinking of you over here in our little country where big fires like that never happens...
    Hugs from us in Sweden!

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  28. I too have never heard of a coal seam fire. Bad enough you have above ground fires, now you have to worry about below ground too! It's kind of that way here too only they call them bog fires, where the peat underneath can stay smoldering for a very long time. I hope they find them all and extinguuish them. The firefighters have to be pretty weary. Hope your babies are mending really well too!

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  29. Hopefully this latest threat is taken care of soon and things can start looking a bit more positive. You have been through so much already. Take care.

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  30. I had no idea about these types of fires. I hope it is OUT NOW!

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  31. checking in to send some positive thoughts and best wishes to you!!

    stay strong, you have a lot of love here!! xo

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