The Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (DRMS) has announced the start of Phase One construction for the Corley Mine Surface Burn Mitigation Project. The project aims to extinguish a burning coal refuse pile located about nine miles south-southwest of Florence, Colorado.
Construction is set to begin on May 19, 2025, with completion expected by September 4, 2025. The effort is funded through federal programs designed to reduce the impact of coal mines on nearby communities, with an accepted bid amount totaling $853,015.
The targeted coal refuse pile covers 1.5 acres and has been burning for more than twenty years due to spontaneous combustion. The pile measures roughly 35 feet in height, 150 feet in width, and 300 feet in length. This site is a remnant of historical mining activity that involved fifteen different mines operating between the 1920s and the 1990s.
DRMS will supervise mechanical excavation work involving approximately 82,400 cubic yards of burning material. Water will be used at a rate of five gallons per cubic yard to quench each load before it is blended with onsite waste piles at a one-to-one ratio, cooled further, and then backfilled into place. In total, excavation and backfill activities will cover about 164,800 cubic yards across a site spanning nine and a half acres.
To help prevent fire hazards during operations, DRMS plans to clear vegetation from around the active area covering all nine and a half acres. A supply of at least 20,000 gallons of water will be maintained onsite at all times during hot work activities. This water will be stored in tanks equipped with pumps capable of delivering up to two hundred gallons per minute using fittings compatible with equipment from the Florence Fire Protection District. Work involving heat or sparks will be suspended if sustained winds exceed twenty-five miles per hour or if other weather conditions increase wildfire risk.
The project area sits on private property where public access is not allowed; no public roads or recreational areas are affected by this operation. DRMS is working closely with local authorities throughout the process to ensure safety standards are met and fire suppression resources remain available until completion.
People living nearby may notice large plumes resembling wildfire smoke as coal or ash rises from the site during mitigation efforts; these could become visible over wide areas depending on wind conditions. Residents who have questions or concerns about local smoke should contact their local fire protection district for information.
After extinguishing the fire in Phase One, Phase Two will involve grading using GPS-guided equipment to create landforms that match surrounding terrain while reducing erosion risks. Final restoration steps include planting native seeds across disturbed areas.
