There have been concerns for years about underground burning and smoldering in a defunct mine near Boulder, Colorado. Initially, some people thought this underground activity might have caused the devastating Marshall Fire in 2021.
However, after investigation, officials found that the fire actually started due to a power line and a trash fire, not the underground burning. Despite this, there were still worries that the smoldering coal could cause problems in the future.
To prevent any future risks, the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining, and Safety launched a project called the Marshall Coal Fire Mitigation Project. This project aimed to deal with the smoldering coal under the Marshall Mesa Trailhead site. The announcement that the mitigation work was finished came on January 13.
Officials shared that the highest temperatures recorded underground during the project were 525 degrees Fahrenheit. Most of the smoldering coal had temperatures between 175 and 250 degrees.
Crews worked hard to remove around 180,000 cubic yards of material from the site. They also addressed parts of the mine that had burned out, which posed a danger of the ground sinking. Additionally, crews tackled the unburned coal in an effort to stop any future fires from starting.
Now that the excavation is done, only a little work remains. The final steps include backfilling and grading the area. Once this is complete, the city of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks plans to redevelop the site into the Marshall Mesa Trailhead. The project is expected to be done by mid-February, and the trailhead redevelopment will likely start in the spring of 2025.
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