2 Dead, 12 Hurt In Utah Mine Fire

Two miners were killed by a fire in a coal mine early Tuesday, authorities said. At least 12 others were taken to a hospital for treatment.

Four miners escaped uninjured from the blaze at the Little Creek Mine, about 12 miles northeast of Price, said Dennis Dooley, Carbon County emergency management director.

He said the injured miners mostly suffered from burns and were being taken to the Castleview Hospital in Price. The extent of injuries was not immediately known.

Dooley said the fire, which occurred about 1:30 a.m., was out and rescuers were preparing to enter the mine operated by Ruhr Coal. The cause of the fire wasn't known.

Price, a community of about 9,000 people, is 100 miles southeast of Salt Lake City. According to federal figures, there are about 86,000 U.S. coal miners working primarily in Wyoming, West Virginia and Kentucky.