Such fires can be very stubborn to extinguish because of the amount of coal involved (often hundreds of tons) and the difficulty of getting to the seat of the problem. Moreover, coal is either in the smouldering or flaming stage may produce copious amounts of methane and carbon monoxide gases. In addition to their toxicity, these gases are highly explosive in certain concentrations, and can further complicate efforts to fight this type of coal fire. Even the most universal firefighting substance, water, cannot be used indiscriminately, because of the remote possibility of a steam explosion; it is advisable that water be applied carefully and from a safe distance. The above information suggests that coal fires require awareness and prior planning
