Two workers critically injured in mine shaft explosion, Placer County fire officials say
Two people suffered critical injuries Friday morning when an explosion occurred as they worked inside a mine shaft in Placer County, officials said.
The explosion was reported about 9:40 a.m. at the mine along Mosquito Ridge Road within Tahoe National Forest, according to a news release from the Foresthill Fire Protection District.
The Foresthill Fire District, along with units from Cal Fire and the U.S. Forest Service, responded to the report of the explosion. Firefighters arrived and found the two critically injured people who were working in the mine at the time of the explosion, fire officials said.
Medics provided initial care at the scene and took the two patients to a nearby landing zone, and they were then flown by helicopter to Sutter Roseville Medical Center. There was no further information available about the two injured people.
Fire officials said further investigation indicated that tools used in the mine “may have created static electricity, which caused nearby explosives to ignite.” The status of the mine is unknown, as the mine shaft has not yet been inspected, according to the Foresthill Fire District.
Personnel from the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration also arrived to the scene and will continue to investigate the explosion and determine the safety and status of the mine.
“Mining in the area is common and most mines are small individual operator claims,” Foresthill fire officials said in the news release. “While mining is common, incidents involving mines in Placer County are very rare.”
